Poet Tung Bach: Young poetry has yet to find its way

(Baonghean) - Poet Tung Bach (Le Tung Bach) is a famous poet from Nghe An with a very humorous but profound poetic voice. He is a member of the Vietnam Writers Association and was a long-time editor of the Nghe - Tinh Literature and Arts Association in the past. As for himself, Tung Bach only wishes to be "like a lark in the field, singing and flying". On the occasion of Vietnam Poetry Day, we had a meeting and a chat with this talented poet...

Hello poet Tung Bach, I wish you a healthy new year.

Thank you!. For the poet, every day is something new.

Many people say that poetry is difficult, but it seems like Tung Bach writes poetry like it's nothing?...

The Vietnam Writers Association is about to organize the 10th Vietnam Poetry Day. So, poet, do you think there has been any change in the poetry writing movement in the province since the Poetry Day?

Vietnam Poetry Day is a major initiative of the Vietnam Writers Association, creating a special festival for poets and poetry lovers. It is truly a joy for poetry lovers. After 10 years, I see that the poetry festival has had a profound impact. These days, almost all localities and commune poetry clubs organize their own poetry days. After 9 days of poetry festivals, about to be the 10th festival, it can be said that poetry has truly been "socialized" with the movement of everyone writing poetry.

Over the past ten years, I have still had a prediction of a prospect from young poets in the province. Occasionally, there are good poems by young authors, but not really many. In the past, when Mr. Mau and Mr. Duat (Nguyen Duc Mau, Pham Tien Duat - PV) appeared, people often had high expectations... Perhaps now publishing and printing are too easy, so people are less enthusiastic about poetry?... There is also a writer named Kha Thi Thuong who is also very noteworthy, but it seems that her prose is more famous than her poetry.

Young poets today are also finding their own path, aren't they?

Since Doi Moi, the youth writing movement has also undergone some changes, but recently young poets are writing in a style that suits them. It seems that young poets are now looking for a new style of writing but have not yet found a suitable path.

There are poets of my generation who also advocate this movement, such as Nguyen Trong Tao. But he still cannot surpass his previous works, such as the collectionThe world without moon....

It seems that the poet is a bit "difficult" with poetry?

I don’t think so, because writing poetry is extremely difficult. Some people have declared that they “will no longer write poetry,” such as Nguyen Duy. But in reality, poetry has left them, not that they have stopped writing poetry. When people get old, they are no longer “healthy.” Wise people often know when to stop. Just like us, one day poetry will also leave us.

What does the poet want to convey to the next generation of poets?

I really want the young generation of writers to be nurtured in culture, lifestyle, and writing. Only then will they find a good path. Perhaps publishing poetry is too easy, so their writing is also easy. Their writing is more oriented towards the “I” than the “we”. From ancient times to the present, most of the works that have stood the test of time are often aimed at the masses.

Sincere thanks to poet Tung Bach!...

Huu Vi (implementation)