Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry is full of anxiety before the reality of life.

With the participation of researchers, literary critics, and prominent poets, the discussion is an academic and artistic meeting to identify, analyze, and evaluate the position and contributions of poet Nguyen Tien Thanh in the movement of contemporary poetry.

Have inner strength from contemplation, faith, creative attitude

Poet Nguyen Tien Thanh is a prominent figure in the student poetry movement at Hanoi University of Science (now the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) in the late 1980s; at one time his poems were handwritten and passed around by students to read. Nguyen Tien Thanh's poems soon had their own unique tone, without elaborate words, expressing emotions and contemplating life naturally...

Poet Nguyen Tien Thanh was born in 1968 in Vinh Phuc (now Phu Tho); member of the Vietnam Writers Association. After graduating from Hanoi University of Science, he was retained as a lecturer, then switched to journalism; currently the General Director of the Vietnam Education Publishing House.

He has published 4 collections of poetry and 2 collections of literary essays: "Nameless afternoon like ink stains in the middle of life" (poetry), Literature Publishing House, 2021; "Chaos in writing" (poetry), Writers' Association Publishing House, 2021; "Faraway song" (poetry), Literature Publishing House, 2024; "Eternal secret agreement" (poetry), Writers' Association Publishing House, 2025; "Time of magazines" (essay), Literature Publishing House, 2021; "Poetry that does not need to save anyone but save the writer" (essay), Writers' Association Publishing House, 2025.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association, spoke at the seminar. Photo: T. Thuy

Speaking at the seminar, poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association, said that Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry is a special voice. Therein lies the human's anxiety before the reality of life, the desire to regain one's identity in the midst of a life full of changes, and the most precious thing is that the poet is always loyal to true emotions, to the work of words and the responsibility of a writer.

Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu believes that Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry has inner strength from contemplation, belief, and creative attitude. Reading his poetry, we realize a journey that is both private and universal. The author goes through the joys and sorrows, seemingly trivial details of life to touch on big questions about humanity, belief, and the meaning of existence. Nguyen Tien Thanh is a person who believes that poetry cannot save the world, but can save people from the hardness of their souls. For that reason, he always writes with a serious attitude, considering each word as a living being.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ly Hoai Thu commented that Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry is a process of continuous self-dialogue of the modern self, where the personal voice blends with human and social issues, but still retains a private sound and philosophical depth. While many contemporary poets lean towards instinctive emotions, Nguyen Tien Thanh aims for a balance between intelligence and emotion, between image and thought.

Poet Nguyen Viet Chien shares. Photo: T. Thuy

According to poet Nguyen Viet Chien, in all three collections “Chieu khong danh nhu mot muc trong doi”, “Loạn but hanh” and “Viên ca”, Nguyen Tien Thanh’s lyrical self is always on the move, thereby forming the qualities of a romantic, liberal yet sentimental, unruly yet multifaceted poet, both “walking bareheaded in the sunlight of the world” and constantly restless before the drizzle of memories. It is this quality that acts as an identity that connects three seemingly separate yet seamless collections of poems, from love songs of the twenties to short, postmodern contemplative pieces, creating a “viễn ca” orbit that spans more than three decades of writing.

Dr. Ha Thanh Van believes that Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry opens up a world that is both intimate and full of thoughts. There, he not only speaks as an individual poet, but also as an echo of someone who has spent three decades in journalism, management, and now stands in the position of a cultural intellectual. His poetic world can be identified through four major streams: personal lyricism, contemplation of life, imbued with the breath of society, and memories of the homeland.

In a world run by algorithms, poetry still travels with the heart

Works of poet Nguyen Tien Thanh. Photo: T.Thuy

At the discussion, the opinions expressed that, for poet Nguyen Tien Thanh, in the journey of life, every step is a renewal, poetry is the same, each poem is a continuation of different emotions and associations.

Nguyen Tien Thanh writes poetry to express his emotions and contemplate life, in a natural, poetic way. He does not seem to intentionally create change or innovation. The newness in his poetry is a natural newness that comes from emotions and reflections. Nguyen Tien Thanh has his own poetic code and language.

In the movement of contemporary Vietnamese poetry, it can be said that Nguyen Tien Thanh's poetry is a distinct shade and has a long-lasting influence. In the context of Vietnamese poetry facing many challenges in terms of reader requirements and aesthetics, poetry still has the ability to awaken, guide and purify the soul.

Sharing at the discussion, poet Nguyen Tien Thanh expressed: “I believe that, no matter how the times change, people will still need poetry – not to decorate life, but to keep life with a light inside. When language becomes tired of serving, poetry is where it rests.”

According to poet Nguyen Tien Thanh, contemporary Vietnamese poetry is standing at a very interesting intersection, having both memory and technology; both national spirit and dialogue with the world. Each poet is a separate frequency channel - some transmit waves through nostalgia, some through aspiration, some through satire, some through silence. And thanks to that, the appearance of Vietnamese poetry today has become polyphonic, without needing any "mainstream" to still be able to create a flow.

The poet shares that, in the end, poetry is a way for us to look at the world without looking at the screen. It makes us realize that in this life full of turmoil and data, there is still room for the indefinable – for beauty, for silence, for an emotion without a reason. If poetry has power, it is the power of something that brings no profit, but helps us not to go bankrupt emotionally. Poetry does not help us make money, does not make us successful, but reminds us that we once had a heart that knew how to listen. And perhaps, that alone is enough reason for us to continue writing, continue reading, continue believing.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/tho-nguyen-tien-thanh-day-noi-thao-thuc-truoc-hien-thuc-doi-song-720440.html