Epic poem "Uncle Ho's Road to Viet Bac"

BBK - The epic poem "Uncle Ho's Road to Viet Bac" by poet Nguyen Dinh Phuc (Phu Tho), member of the Vietnam Writers' Association, was honored to win the C prize, Award for composing and promoting literary, artistic and journalistic works with the theme "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style" in the second phase, 2021 - 2025.

Poet Nguyen Dinh Phuc at the award ceremony.

The epic poem “Uncle Ho’s Road to Viet Bac” is a slice of Uncle Ho’s image on the arduous and dangerous road to the Viet Bac resistance base in the early days of fighting against French colonialism. The work also speaks of the genius leadership of Uncle Ho and the Central Committee in the midst of numerous difficulties, turning danger into safety, from holding out to counterattacking, leading the long-term resistance to brilliant success. The road Uncle Ho took, although supremely secret, was still close to the people, absolutely concealing the eyes and ears of the spying enemy.

The epic poem "Uncle Ho's Road to Viet Bac" by author Nguyen Dinh Phuc (right).

During those difficult days, the whole country devoted themselves to fighting the resistance war. The image of the brave and courageous guerrillas of the Thao and Lo rivers, day and night, using all means to fight and stop the enemy, hoping every minute for Uncle Ho's safe passage to the resistance zone, still shines in the "Epic of the Lo River" by the late musician Van Cao and "Guerrillas of the Thao River" by the late musician Do Nhuan.

From his simple words and actions on the way to the Viet Bac resistance base, the author has carved a vivid and realistic portrait of Uncle Ho. The epic poem consists of 4 chapters: Chapter I "Co Tiet awakens to his words"; Chapter II "The turbulent days of Chu Hoa"; Chapter III "Yen Kien's gate tilts"; Chapter IV "Brightening the way to the land of Uncle Ho's ancestors".

“Not raised from the sky

Not blown up from the ground

Not like turning on and off day and night

There is a path that hides many mysteries

Still silently lighting fires everywhere

Light from the wisdom of His heart

He brought it to Viet Bac.

Soul of mountains and rivers, forever independence

I was lost in thought in the forest of Co Tiet.

The Thi tree spreads its branches, nostalgic, green

This is the place where Uncle Ho used to do exercises.

The lingering scent preserves the poetic love

The light of time gilds the course of events.

The novelty of this epic poem is that it has discovered and depicted how the people of Phu Tho were patriotic, resilient in fighting the enemy, protecting and sheltering Uncle Ho. The places where he visited and stayed during his days in the Viet Bac War Zone, now historical sites: Co Tiet, Chu Hoa, Yen Kien, will be preserved and worshiped forever.

Perhaps the most successful chapter of this epic is Chapter I “Co Tiet awakens to His words”. On the way to Viet Bac, Uncle Ho stopped and stayed here for 15 days. And it was here that he named the 8 cadres who accompanied him “Truong – Ky – Khang – Chien – Nhat – Dinh – Thang – Loi”. That will and determination of his ignited the hearts of the Vietnamese people. And indeed, the long-term resistance war became a symbol of will, a historic decision, leading to the resounding Dien Bien Phu victory around the world.

In the verses that "wrap up" the confessions and thoughts about Uncle Ho's difficult days in Co Tiet, it seems to "open up" the landscape and the consciousness of the people here in preserving and embellishing a sacred area of ​​memory.

And in chapter II:

"Chu Hoa Night

Uncle Ho's hair turns grayer

When I saw people running around

How to solve the problem?

In chaos

His heart is full of love

Night awake the whole sky

Directive

"Save the people, save the country".

From that directive, the people of the whole country, the people of the Ancestral Land, rose up with one heart: "Under the bamboo hedges and grassy hills/The forests of flamingos presented to the king/The guerrillas of Thao and Lo rivers/Unite with the people and army of Justice/Establishing barricades to hold back the evil enemy/The female guerrillas of Minh Ha are determined to die..." The verses seem to tell, interspersed with them, we can imagine Uncle Ho's path to Viet Bac to lead the resistance and the early days of the resistance in Phu Tho were no less difficult and fierce.

He stood here and said: "I will always remember when I leave/ I will promise to return to King Hung one day." That was also his promise to his ancestors, to the whole country, that "After leaving", he will return one day, bringing victory back.

Poet Nguyen Dinh Phuc was very intentional in portraying the portrait of the President in the most vivid way during sleepless nights worrying about national affairs. In chapter III:

Closing this epic poem, chapter IV, in “Brightening the Path of Uncle Ho’s Ancestral Land”, poet Nguyen Dinh Phuc once again illuminates the hearts and spirit of the people of the Ancestral Land with promises to Uncle Ho and actions that come from deep within his heart.

Through this epic poem, we can see the spirit of the whole nation in the early days of the boiling resistance. "A secret and mysterious revolutionary path that Uncle Ho took, has been in me like a legend in the epic poem, with a small, sincere heart, respectfully offering to Uncle Ho, forever following his example" - Quoted from poet Nguyen Dinh Phuc./.

Bich Ngoc

Source: https://baobackan.vn/truong-ca-duong-bac-len-viet-bac-post71012.html