Nguyen Duy Tri is one of the most well-known writers of Vietnamese literature. He is well-known for his expressive and moving poetry that explores the depths of human emotions. One of his most well-known poems is “leaving the past behind nguyen duy tri • lonely empty room • 2022, which delves deeply into the consequences of the past and the difficult process of self-awareness and emancipation.
The poem’s opening line, which paints a picture of a lonely room devoid of warmth and life, is harsh and depressing. This physical region represents the protagonist’s internal conflict and acts as a mirror reflection of the emotional emptiness that surrounds them. The utter silence of the room serves as a constant reminder of their partner-status of loneliness and isolation.
The speaker explores the reasons behind their despair as the poem goes on, bringing to light the burden of unfavourable critiques that continue to hound their talent. It is the beyond that impedes their progress and prevents them from embracing the prevailing, like a persistent shadow.
The poem’s imagery, which captures the protagonist’s emotional state with unvarnished honesty, is extremely striking. The emptiness left by the past, which threatens to engulf them entirely, is symbolised by the “empty shelves” and “cobweb-blanketed walls.” The sensation of loneliness and hopelessness is also heightened by the “echoing silence” and the “creaking floorboards.”
The poem delivers a glimpse of desire despite the weight of the hereafter, implying on the protagonist’s fortitude and backbone to break away from the bonds of their memories. The speaker expresses a desire to take a “breath of fresh air,” to leave their lonely room, and to seize the opportunities that lay ahead.
The poem’s moving declaration, “I will upward thrust from this lonely empty room,” at the end bears witness to the protagonist’s inner power and their steadfast faith in the capacity for self-renewal. The room, which served as a symbol of their captivity, now serves as the beginning of their journey towards freedom.
The moving poem “leaving the past behind nguyen duy tri • lonely empty room • 2022 offers as a profound reminder of the afterlife’s enduring impact and the difficulties of travelling the path towards self-discovery. Readers are emotionally moved by the poem’s vivid imagery and raw emotional honesty, which offers comfort and guidance to individuals who struggle with the weight of the hereafter.
