Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia presents flowers to Cham ethnic poet Kieu Maily at the "Harmony of the Homeland" poetry night - Photo: HUYEN CHI
The second time it was held at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and both times in the evening, Vietnam Poetry Day took place amidst cold, rainy spring weather.
The rain lasted almost all day, resulting in sparse attendance at this year's Vietnam Poetry Day, held from February 23rd to 24th. Attendees were mostly from the literary community, with very few members of the general public.
The evening was the main event, with only the front rows of seats occupied by delegates. Delegates, sheltered by umbrellas and wearing raincoats, sat listening to poetry readings and songs set to poetry.
In his opening remarks, poet Nguyen Quang Thien, president of the Vietnam Writers Association , affirmed that the cold wind and drizzling rain pose a challenge to poetry, but for the Vietnamese people, it is precisely in the face of challenges, suffering, and loss that the "flowers" of the heart, of each face, are revealed.
He appealed: "Let poetry reign forever in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. Let poetry bring aspirations for beauty and freedom to every destiny in every corner of this beloved, magnificent, indomitable, and proud land…".
This year, the focus is on honoring ethnic minority poets, so the poems displayed on the poetry street are mainly by ethnic minority poets. The exhibition in the House of Memories also features some ethnic minority poets who have received the Ho Chi Minh Prize, along with some works about the poet and President Ho Chi Minh.
Delegates and poetry lovers braved the rain to listen to poetry at an outdoor stage in Thang Long Imperial Citadel - Photo: T. ĐIỂU
The evening poetry reading event is also primarily dedicated to reading poems by ethnic minority poets or poems about mountainous regions and ethnic minority people.
Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu affirmed that, representing the 54 ethnic groups, he brings a declaration about the beauty and freedom of each individual and each nation.
This year, perhaps for the first time, Vietnam Poetry Day featured poetry readings by several poets from South Korea. The Korean poets read their works in Korean, and the two presenters of the poetry night read their Vietnamese translations.
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