At the launch of his poetry anthology in April 2025, author Thuan Huu stated that although he had been invited to apply to join the Vietnam Writers Association , he remained hesitant. He believed that writing poetry was simply a way to "indulge himself," to record genuine emotions during his life and work. True to his preface, Thuan Huu wrote: "Sitting here gathering scattered fragments of my soul / Contributing to life the voice of a lover."
An anthology of poems titled "Collected Along the Way" by author Thuan Huu. |
Because he wasn't a member of the literary association, he couldn't officially be called a poet, but for decades, the literary world and readers have implicitly honored him with this title. Thuan Huu became famous early in literature with his inspired poem "Moments of Heartache," which the renowned "king of love poetry," Xuan Dieu, greatly admired during his lifetime. The poem speaks of old, undimmed feelings of love, yet they are merely fleeting, very human moments of heartache, leading to an appreciation for present happiness: "Everyone has a time to love and a time to remember / Everyone has moments outside of marriage / Don't blame those moments of heartache."
Because of the popularity of this poem, many people call Thuan Huu "the poet of one poem," but if one reads the anthology "Picking Along the Way," many will surely think differently because the collection contains many impressive poems.
What makes Thuan Huu's poetry so appealing is its simplicity in language and depth of emotion. Thuan Huu doesn't chase after elaborate, pretentious techniques. His poetry is as natural as breathing, a sincere expression of emotions born from life. This doesn't mean it's crude; rather, the simplicity is somewhat philosophical, stemming from profound thought and expression: "Childhood is gone, and I have gone far away / Meeting a snail or a shell, I suddenly understand / The pains hidden within the flower-strewn stone shell" (Sea Snails).
Having dedicated his life to journalism, Thuan Huu had the opportunity to travel extensively and meet many people. He wrote many beautiful poems about Da Lat, Tam Dao, Truong Sa... But Quang Nam province, and Da Nang city, where he spent a long time, evoked particularly strong emotions.
With over 100 poems divided into three main sections: "Homeland - Country," "Lovers - Memories," and "Love of the Sea - Love for You," this poetry anthology helps readers visualize the valuable poetic career of someone who avoided the title of poet and did not wish to make a living through literature. Someone once said that poetry reflects the person; reading the anthology "Gathering Along the Way," the public gains a deeper understanding of a very private part of the soul, a more complete portrait of a journalist and politician named Thuan Huu.
Author Thuan Huu, whose real name is Nguyen Huu Thuan, was born in 1958 in Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province. He graduated from the Faculty of Literature, Class 21, Hanoi University (now Vietnam National University, Hanoi). He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the 11th and 12th terms; a National Assembly delegate in the 13th and 14th terms; Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, and President of the Vietnam Journalists Association from 2011 to 2021. In literature, he has published the following works: "Moments of Heartache" (poetry collection, 1987), "Daylight" (short story collection, 1988), "The Call of the Sea" (poetry collection, 2000), and "Gathering Along the Way" (poetry anthology, 2025). |
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/tieng-tho-xao-long-doc-gia-a422851.html
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