Through each page, the sea is depicted with many nuances and emotional nuances—sometimes gentle and tender, other times powerful and fierce. From this inspiration, many authors have left behind emotionally rich poems.
Author Kim Cương (a member of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts) is one of the writers with many impressive works on this theme, notably the poem "Jumping Rocks," written about Da Nhay beach—a famous scenic spot with rock formations eroded by the waves into countless shapes. Right in the opening, the author creates a paradox, evoking many interesting associations for the reader about the beauty of the sea and rocks here, both tranquil and vibrant: "Still the same / Jumping Rocks all their lives / Shaking on the sea surface / rocks drifting gently."
The strange thing here is that the rocks seem to "jump," "wobble," and even "float gently." It sounds illogical, but if you've ever been to Da Nhay (Jumping Rocks) and seen the waves crashing against the cliffs, you'll understand the author's intention in describing the beauty of this scenic spot.
While both poets draw inspiration from Da Nhay beach, Nguyen Tien Nen (a member of the Vietnam Writers Association ) has a very unique, romantic, and lyrical way of perceiving it. With his poem "The Evening Picture of Da Nhay Beach," Nguyen Tien Nen immerses the reader in a poetic space of a radiant sunset, where the sea, the twilight, and the human heart intertwine in profound emotions.
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| Da Nhay Beach, a source of inspiration for poetry - Photo by Nh.V |
The poem begins with the lines: "Who gathers the sunlight behind the forest/adorns the cheeks of the blushing afternoon?" and then "I and the rocks linger and hesitate" before the captivating beauty of the sea. The afternoon scene is further embellished by the gentle yet sensual movements of the southerly breeze "gently caressing" the sandy shore, while the "sea morning glory vines" "flirt intimately"... In this dreamy space of "Da Nhay in the afternoon, earthly or celestial," humanity finds harmony between the beauty of nature and the intoxicating passion of romantic love.
While author Kim Cương and poet Nguyễn Tiến Nên view the sea with lyrical and poetic beauty, author Lê Thúc Vũ, chairman of the Mai Thủy Poetry Lovers Club (Trường Phú commune), realistically reflects the rhythm of life and the resilience of coastal people in the face of nature's harshness. In his poem "Four Seasons with the Sea," the author uses simple, unpretentious language to describe the four seasons of the year at sea and the people who have dedicated their lives to the salty taste of the ocean.
If spring is a pristine, gentle painting with "Smooth footprints on the sand/Coolness fills the space...", then when the golden sun heralds summer, the sea dons a vibrant, lively beauty: "The shore whispers of grass" and "The morning glory boasts/its faithful colors". However, the sea is not only about gentle, poetic moments. When autumn arrives and winter comes, the nature of the coastal region becomes fierce and harsh: "Sand stings the skin/The mysterious and majestic sea/The beach exposes the shore - boats seek shelter from storms...".
With just the word "sting," Le Thuc Vu evokes the harshness characteristic of Central Vietnam during stormy seas. The sand is no longer soft but whips against the face and skin, stinging like needles. The sea also loses its familiar gentleness and becomes mysterious and ferocious. The image of "The beach exposed to the wind - boats sheltering from the storm" suggests the quiet, anxious state of the fishing village before the raging storms.
After the great storms, the harsh winter returns, and the sea becomes violent, preventing fishermen from going out to sea. During those days, they return to their work of mending nets and repairing boats, quietly preparing for the next fishing trip. The poem not only depicts the harshness of nature but also highlights the patience and resilience of the people of the coastal region in the face of life's challenges.
The poetry of the white sand region is not only rich in lyricism but also possesses a powerful energy, expressing the aspiration to reach for horizons of freedom. This is clearly demonstrated in the poem "The Bird Against the Sea" by Phan Van Chuong (a member of the Provincial Association of Literature and Arts).
The artwork opens up a vast and beautiful space with the melodious chirping of nightingales and warblers blending with the white of the sand and the blue of the sea. Most striking is the image of birds with their wings spread wide, catching the wind in the open sea—a symbol of the courageous spirit and proud character of the people of the sandy region, always proactively facing challenges, knowing how to transform life's storms into motivation to nurture and support their soaring aspirations.
While in "The Bird Against the Sea," Phan Van Chuong portrays the sea with powerful and expansive inspiration, in "The Sadness of the Sea" by the late poet Hai Ky, the sea takes on a different nuance—profound, rich in inner feelings, and filled with personal sorrows.
"The Sadness of the Sea" is not simply a poem describing the seascape; hidden behind the waves, the stars, and the vast sky is an inner world filled with anxieties and yearnings, fueled by an intense and poignant love. The poem concludes with a gentle yet profound sadness: "From then on, in silence / The sea reflects the distant stars / And whispers to the waves / What remains unsaid."
After the restlessness and sleeplessness, the sea returns to its quietude, but this is not forgetting, but rather silent preservation. The sea still carries within it the image of distant stars, still silently sending unspoken feelings into the sound of its waves.
With simple yet evocative language, the poet skillfully borrows the vastness of the sea to express the depth of the human heart, creating a continuous stream of emotions from longing and yearning to quiet acceptance and unwavering loyalty to a love that remains unspoken.
Through their works, we see that the sea in the poetry of Quang Tri authors is a vibrant and complete whole. The sea is both a natural landscape, a source of pride for their homeland, and a close friend of the poets from this coastal region...
From the dizzying intoxication on the cliffs of Da Nhay beach in Kim Cuong's poetry, the intimate brushstrokes of Nguyen Tien Nen, the courageous four-season song of Le Thuc Vu, the proud posture against the wind of Phan Van Chuong, to the gentle whispers of the late poet Hai Ky, all have woven a beautiful and poetic literary picture of the sea. This picture, though simple and gentle, contains the warm and loyal affection of the people of Central Vietnam, who live in harmony with the sea, full of love and unwavering devotion to their homeland.
Nh.V
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/van-hoa/202605/tam-tinh-mien-chansong-1db484b/
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