Three times meeting Huu Loan

Poet Huu Loan during his lifetime. Photo: Document

During Huu Loan's lifetime, I met him three times, and all three times left me with unforgettable impressions. The first time, in 1988, I met Huu Loan in Quy Nhon, the capital of Nghia Binh province. That time, Huu Loan came down from Lam Dong to Quy Nhon, and he was very happy to see us. I thought this was an event that could be organized for Huu Loan to read poetry. I told Mr. The Ky, who was then in charge of the Quy Nhon Cultural House, to ask him to organize a poetry reading night when poet Huu Loan visited Nghia Binh.

That poetry night was very touching. When they heard that Huu Loan was reading poetry, many people, including passersby, cyclo drivers, and bike riders came to watch just because they loved the name Huu Loan, even though they had never met him. The poetry reading night for the working people by Huu Loan and us was a great success. Sitting with him, drinking a few glasses of Bau Da wine, we realized that Huu Loan was a hidden person.

At first glance, it is difficult to guess the inner strength of this man who has both the appearance of a pioneer and the appearance of a green mountain woodcutter. It is true that Huu Loan once did a job that was harder than a woodcutter: he carried a cart of stones to earn a living and support his family during difficult times. But he was originally a "scholar" of the Western period, a person well-versed in Chinese studies, and a poet of no ordinary kind. With just one poem, "Mau tim hoa sim", Huu Loan conquered many generations of poetry readers, both in the North and in the South.

Contributing to the promotion of that immortal poem were two songs set to the poem, one by Pham Duy, one by Dung Chinh. Pham Duy's song seemed more "scholarly", while Dung Chinh's song was more popular (bolero). But both songs were very popular among the people.

The second time I met Huu Loan was in 1989, in Quang Ngai. At that time, Quang Ngai had just divided into provinces, my family moved from Quy Nhon to Quang Ngai, life was difficult, but every time I met Huu Loan, I was happy, because my difficulties were nothing compared to the hardships Huu Loan had experienced for many years. I was so happy to meet Huu Loan, I took him to read poetry at schools. Huu Loan's voice was so warm, and "Thanh Hoa's style". But reading poetry did not seem to be his "profession", it was just that he happened to meet him on the river. When hanging out with Huu Loan, what I liked most was listening to him talk.

From distant stories to recent stories, from the Book of Changes to Du Fu's poems. In this old poet's heart is a treasure trove of knowledge, which he always ponders and accumulates, so it is knowledge of experience, not scholastic knowledge. It is knowledge imbued with life. Huu Loan is leisurely and humble, his voice soft but resonant.

The third time I met Huu Loan was at the 1995 Writers' Congress. It was Huu Loan's first appearance at an official congress of the Writers' Association after nearly 40 years of absence. We shook hands and congratulated him, and generations of writers crowded around him. Huu Loan was constantly invited to... drink beer. At that year's congress, there was always a very delicious draft beer stall in the lobby ready to serve the writers. When sitting next to poet My Da, Huu Loan looked very cheerful. His voice was still sincere and gentle. When I asked him if he liked My Da, Huu Loan smiled shyly, very lovable.

Now, whenever I think of Huu Loan, I feel like a thousand miles away, even though Thanh Hoa is right on Highway 1. Because even when I am next to Huu Loan, I still have the feeling that "Huu Loan is a thousand miles away". He is as distant as the shadow of an old man, yet as close as a farmer who has just finished plowing. That thousand miles is so close. It has been 15 years since I said goodbye to him, I remember the three times I met him, those were the three lucky encounters in my life.

THANH THAO

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5433/202504/ba-lan-gap-huu-loan-4004800/