Friendship with Chile through poetry in the memories of Tran Dang Khoa

Inspired by a poem about Vietnam written by a young Chilean boy in 1968, the then 10-year-old poet Tran Dang Khoa responded with a poem addressed to someone he had never met. Nearly 60 years later, he recounted this special story at the launch of the Chilean children's book series "Papelucho," along with profound memories of the country and its people – a place he described as "incredibly beautiful, so clean that you can wipe the streets without seeing any dust."

At the ceremony announcing the official arrival of the famous Chilean children's book series "Papelucho" in Vietnam on June 24th, poet Tran Dang Khoa, former Vice President of the Vietnam Writers Association , presented an emotionally rich paper, not only about children's literature and reading culture, but also about the timeless story of friendship, poetry, and the connection between the Vietnamese and Chilean people.

“I knew about Chile since I was a child. When Vietnam was at war, the Chilean people were close to us. I know hundreds of Pablo Neruda’s poems by heart and I love his poetry,” Mr. Khoa began.

Poet Tran Dang Khoa speaks at the ceremony announcing the official arrival of the children's book series "Papelucho" in Vietnam, June 24, 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

He recounted that in 1968, when he was only 10 years old, he read a poem titled "An Open Letter to Vietnam" by a young Chilean girl, Miraya Hilimet, then 15 years old and living in Santiago. The poem was published in issue 524 of the Thiếu niên Tiền phong (Young Pioneers) newspaper, and it moved young Tran Dang Khoa so much that he memorized it and has kept it to this day.

The poem contains the following lines:

Vietnam

Beautiful like a clear stream

The pink heart is bleeding.

Because your lives

Suffering from bombs and bullets.

...

Vietnam! Beloved Vietnam

Even though I am far away

Still close to each other, the combatants

I cried out desperately.

The whole world is shouting in protest.

Free

Happy

For Vietnam...

Later, the boy Tran Dang Khoa wrote a poem titled "To My Chilean Friend" in response, expressing his deep affection for his friend from afar, which included the following lines:

I've never met you before.

Listening to your poems stirs my heart…

You love my country.

In the stream, the sky is blue.

I love all the kind little friends.

A smile blossomed, eyes as blue as the sky…

"I remember that poem has been reprinted 168 times in my poetry collections. He is five years older than me. I'm almost 70 now, and he's probably around 75. Although we've never met, through poetry, we feel like we've been friends for ages," shared poet Tran Dang Khoa.

He also recounted his visit to Chile more than a decade ago, a journey he called "unlike anywhere else I've been." Having traveled through 46 countries, Tran Dang Khoa asserted that no country has left such a strong impression as Chile. "It's an incredibly beautiful country. The cities are so clean that you feel like you can wipe the streets without seeing any dust. Every house has a basket of flowers outside the window, and what's special is that no two houses are alike."

During that trip, he visited the home of the poet Pablo Neruda, a former ambassador, cultural activist, and poetic icon of Chile. He recounted that when Neruda passed away in 1973, the Chilean people rose to recite farewell poems, chanting his name: "Pablo Neruda - present!", as an immortal symbol of national spirit.

Sharing his thoughts on the "Papelucho" series by Chilean writer Marcela Paz, poet Tran Dang Khoa praised the quality and enduring vitality of the work: "This is a book that was published in the 1930s, but even today it remains very captivating and as fresh as if it were just written. That's wonderful."

Drawing from his own experience, having written poems for newspapers when he was only 8 years old, he asserted: "Writing for children is very difficult. A writer must understand the minds of children and adults alike. A truly authentic work is one that children enjoy reading and adults enjoy reading as well. Within every child there is an adult in the making, and within every adult there is a child who never grows old."

He particularly emphasized the element of appeal – a prerequisite for children's literature to spread. According to him, "Papelucho" fully meets this requirement: “The book is captivating on every page, with many humorous, clever, and unpredictable details. But what is most valuable is that the lessons are conveyed gently, sinking into the children like games and everyday activities, without creating a feeling of being lectured.”

Although the story takes place in Chile nearly a century ago, for him, "Papelucho" remains relatable to Vietnamese children today: "Reading it, one doesn't feel alienated, but upon closing the book, the reader clearly recognizes the character, beauty, and culture of Chile reflected in every page."

Poet Tran Dang Khoa expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation in the translation and publication of children's literature between Chile and Vietnam, in order to bring readers outstanding works from both cultures.

“It’s not just Miraya Hilimet, Marcela Paz, or Pablo Neruda; I believe there are many other Chilean writers waiting to be introduced to Vietnamese readers. Conversely, we also hope that Vietnamese children’s literature can reach Chilean children and the world. Through literature, we understand each other better. And in friendship between nations, mutual understanding is the most solid foundation,” he emphasized.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tinh-ban-chile-qua-tho-trong-ky-uc-tran-dang-khoa-214424.html