On the morning of May 9, 2026, the poetry collection Poems Written for Myself by Colonel and writer Phùng Văn Khai was officially launched in Hanoi.
The event attracted a large number of scholars, historians, writers, artists, and readers. Among the attendees were poet Trần Đăng Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association; Associate Professor Dr. Đỗ Lai Thúy from the Institute of Cultural Anthropology; Lieutenant General Phùng Khắc Đăng, and many others.
The 204-page collection consists of two sections: Part I, Poems from Memory, featuring 41 poems; and Part II, Poems Written for Myself, including 31 poems composed and completed by the author in less than two months while facing significant physical and emotional challenges.
The atmosphere at the launch event for Poems Written for Myself on May 9, 2026.
For many years, the name Phùng Văn Khai has been familiar to Vietnamese readers through his large-scale historical novels and profound prose works about soldiers of the Vietnam People’s Army, including Phùng Vương (2015), Ngô Vương (2018), Nam Đế Vạn Xuân (2020), and Triệu Vương phục quốc (2020). Yet few know that he also possesses a deeply sensitive and gentle poetic soul. In 1994, he published his debut poetry collection Fire and Flowers in 2002.
To Phùng Văn Khai, Poems Written for Myself is not a display of linguistic technique, but rather a series of soul-searching diary entries distilled through the years. The poems reflect his contemplation on life, love, homeland, and the quiet concerns of a soldier living an ordinary life.
Poems Written for Myself is the latest poetry collection by writer Phùng Văn Khai.
Dialogue with culture remains both his strength and a theme he continues to pursue in his literary journey. The collection draws attention through its modern reading sensibility and fresh perspectives on familiar legendary and folkloric figures such as Mỵ Châu, Trọng Thủy, Trương Chi, and Chử Đồng Tử.
“I have finally repaid my debt to the places, historical and cultural figures, and scenic landmarks I once admired. What was once imprinted in my historical novels has now resurfaced in poetry. Questions from a thousand years ago - prejudices, injustices, unresolved grievances - still seem to echo today without satisfactory answers. Literature must confront complexities directly, renew old stories, recount painful lessons, and seek difficult paths toward healing deep wounds, fostering empathy and companionship, and guiding people toward new horizons. Is that not also the inevitable responsibility of a writer? From those lingering questions, Poems Written for Myself gradually took shape and unexpectedly became a substantial manuscript,” Colonel and writer Phùng Văn Khai shared.
The launch event also became a gathering for literature lovers to exchange thoughts and reflections on Phùng Văn Khai’s poetry. Many writers and poets agreed that his poems delve deeply into the stream of consciousness, carrying profound personal reflections and concerns about life and history. Poet Trần Đăng Khoa, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association, remarked that literature always requires innovation. While formal innovation may be easier, renewing content is far more challenging. Although Phùng Văn Khai’s poetry employs familiar imagery and structures, his reflective perspectives and storytelling style leave a distinctive impression on readers.
Translated by MINH KIÊN
VNQD