Before the writing page

I am pensive, and so is my pen.

The entire room was enveloped in silence.

A blank sheet of paper becomes a white execution ground.

Thousands of invisible guns are pointed at me.

Illustrative image.

Newspaper page, poem, the very heart of my life.

Each letter - a reflection of deep concern.

Each keystroke a burst of pain.

Personal pain is deeply intertwined with the pain of life.

Having become a human being, one understands the plight of others.

Newspaper pages and poems do not speak insensitive words.

Every page of the book is a white execution ground.

Thousands of merciless guns were pointed at me.

Hoang Binh Trong

COMMENTARY:

Hoang Binh Trong is a renowned poet who has achieved success in many fields: novels, poetry, essays, short stories… In every genre, he has left a distinct impression on readers. His poem "Before the Writing Page" is a poignant internal monologue, as the writer confronts a blank page as if facing a verdict of conscience. There are no everyday scenes, no images of reporters going about, recording, or photographing… only a quiet room, a pensive pen, a blank sheet of paper – but within that silent space, there is a fierce internal struggle, a dialogue with truth and the character of the writer.

The poem opens with a truly haunting image: "I am pensive, the pen is pensive too / The whole room is immersed in silence / The white paper becomes a white execution ground / Pointing at me a thousand invisible guns." The author doesn't introduce or preface the poem, but abruptly leads the reader into a dense and suffocating space. There, no voice is heard except the inner thoughts of the writer. The pen – the symbol of writing – is not merely a tool, but a living being, empathetic and "pensive" like the author himself. This suggests a profound connection between man and pen – they share responsibility, anguish, and the burden of conscience. Indeed, "the white paper becomes a white execution ground" is a powerful metaphor. The paper, originally inanimate, now becomes the place of execution, the "invisible guns" – the judgment of the people, of justice, of history. In today's age, writers not only write for themselves, but also in front of countless people who are waiting for truth, justice, and humanity.

If the first stanza places the writer before a "white execution ground," the second stanza continues to lead us into the inner depths of a person burdened with responsibility. Words become the repositories of anxieties and life's pain: "The newspaper page, the poem, the heart and soul of my life / Each word – a source of anxieties / Each keystroke a burst of pain / Personal pain permeates the pain of life." Here, the poetic meaning shifts from visual imagery to psychological imagery. The writing page is no longer merely a place for "practicing one's profession," but a place to reveal one's heart, soul, and character. The writer, whether writing for newspapers or poetry, is dedicating every drop of their life's blood to the truth. The line "each keystroke a burst of pain" resonates like a sob, suggesting the author is writing in tears, writing with personal pain mingled with the shared pain of the people. It's not just "writing to live," but "living to write." The writer has chosen a precarious path: using words as a sword, language as a weapon. This harshness doesn't come from outsiders, but from the demands of conscience. There is no room for lies, deceit, or embellishment. Only truth remains – even if it is painful, even if it might hurt oneself.

Indeed, being a human is difficult, and being a writer is even harder, because one cannot escape the realities of life that engulf them.

The third stanza further elevates the poem's thought by expanding the individual self into a collective self: "Having been born human, one must know how to empathize with the plight of others." A simple yet powerful affirmation. To be human means to know how to empathize with the plight of others, to put oneself in the shoes of others, to empathize with their pain, injustice, and adversity. Therefore, for a writer, that burden is even greater. A newspaper page, a poem – things that seem "distant," "artistic" – if they lack compassion, if they are devoid of emotion, they are merely cold products.

The poem is not long, not elaborate, not rhyming or full of flowery rhetoric, but it captures the harsh and sacred nature of the writing profession. Writing, especially journalism and literature, demands not only knowledge and skill, but also courage, honesty, and a heart that is not hardened. In an age of commercialized information, where a single "view" or "click" can dictate content standards, this poem serves as a powerful reminder: Never let your pen become a tool of wrongdoing, evil, or falsehood. Writers need to be awakened daily, not by external pressure, but by dialogue with themselves, with the "thousand invisible guns" pointed at their conscience.

"Before the Writing Page" is a poem not for those who view writing as an easy or purely idealistic profession. It is a poem for those who dare to confront challenges, dare to take responsibility, dare to suffer, and dare to love. Writing is no longer a professional act, but a moral act.

Le Thanh Van (selected and commented)

Source: https://baobacgiang.vn/truoc-trang-viet-postid420384.bbg