The poetry collection will be launched to professionals and the public on the morning of May 9 at the Writers' Association Publishing House 65 Nguyen Du (Hanoi). The 204-page poetry collection, including 2 parts: Part I - "Poems from memories" including 41 poems; Part II - "Poems written for myself" including 31 poems. However, "material time" is only 2 months. Even Phung Van Khai was surprised, "that is like a record, a very familiar milestone in his writing career".
Phung Van Khai specializes in "plowing" on the "field of the past". In other words, simply put, he is a writer specializing in writing historical novels about dynasties and great figures of the country. He is the author of novels about Ngo Vuong, Phung Vuong... to historical novels such as "Wang Chao Tien Ly" (4 volumes).
With part I - "Poems from memories", there are poems of that feeling such as: "Co Loa Citadel", "Co Phap Pagoda", "Van Mieu", "Duong Lam", "Pho Hien", "Phu Trinh", "Hanh Cung Co Bi", "Before the temple of the three Great Kings of Trinh family"...
In the poem "Co Loa Citadel", he wrote: "When writing historical novels about Ngo Vuong and other novels, I often went to Co Loa to find materials, and was warmly welcomed by the temple keeper, temple keeper and brothers and sisters in the Relic Management Board. A few lines of poetry called gratitude to the ancient land...".
Lẫy nỏ oan khiên phận thiếp - chàng/ Ngai vàng gãy đổ nước tan hoang/ Gươm báu đứt lìa tình phụ tử/ Thân trai ngậm ngọc lệ đôi hàng", Phung Van Khai poetically transforms a historical tragedy.
Ancient battles resound gloriously / Simple capital Co Loa citadel / Ngo Vuong established the kingdom thousands of years ago / Still retaining the stature of the country at dawn" (Co Loa Citadel).
Regarding cultural history, Phung Van Khai wrote about Van Mieu, Long Bien Bridge, Hanoi Flagpole; Pho Hien, Nom Pagoda statue garden (in Hung Yen), Gia Thuong Pagoda landscape garden... Phung Van Khai made a unique contribution to the poetization of history.
For me personally, "Poems written for myself" is first and foremost to liberate and satisfy myself. Each poem must be told as a story, converging from many stories, intertwined, complementing each other, contributing to enriching our intellect and soul in life," (Introduction).
Phung Van Khai was born in Minh Khai village, Hung Yen, with a dirty childhood. He wrote about the vastness of space - time, about the memories of the countryside: "Sunshine is always golden, no need to say/ Wind is always green along the riverbank/ The small boat swaying over the waves/ Clouds in the sky white with flowers", (Words of a single mother).
Words of a single mother" and "Words of a person behind bars"...also show that Phung Van Khai is full of compassion, "Poetry written for me" is also a sharing of fate.
At the age of 54, already a grandfather, considering life, Phung Van Khai realizes impermanence.Therefore, in "Poetry written for me", in many common and private feelings, there is a beautiful aesthetic sense rich in Buddhist nature.
