Poet Việt Phương dead at 89

May 07, 2017 - 20:55

Việt Phương, a poet of the first generation of Việt Nam’s modern poets, died on Saturday. He was 89.

Ahead of his time: Poet Việt Phương, among the first generation of Việt Nam’s modern poets, died on Saturday, aged 89. — Photo vietnamnet.vn
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI – Việt Phương, a poet of the first generation of Việt Nam’s modern poets, died on Saturday. He was 89.

Born in 1928, Phương, whose real name was Trần Quang Huy, joined revolutionary activities against the French when he was 17.

In 1947, two years after the establishment of the Central Government Office, Phương moved to work as secretary of then Deputy Prime Minister, Phạm Văn Đồng.

Phương held official posts for 53 years, working for Deputy PM Đồng until he became PM, and then advisor to the Party Central Committee.

Phương’s most outstanding work is the poem collection Cửa Mở (Opened Door) published in 1970, reflecting his then fresh thoughts on ideal values.

Poet Anh Ngọc said of Phương’s work: “It’s my honour to be one of the first readers of the Opened Door. In this poem collection, Phương has dared to think and write his opinions, which went against common majority perceptions at that time. As time goes by, it has been proved that he is a modern-minded person, ahead of his time.”

Phương’s other significant poem collections include Khóc Bác (Crying for President Hồ), Âm Vang (Echo), Cỏ Dọc Đường Trần (Grass on the Earth), Cửa Đã Mở (Door Opened Already). — VNS

 

 

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