\u00a0<\/p>\n
| \n truy\u1ec7n ng\u1eafn<\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Trong nh\u1eefng n\u0103m \u0111\u1ea7u sau khi h\u1ed3i h\u01b0\u01a1ng, Fred nhi\u1ec5m ph\u1ea3i c\u0103n b\u1ec7nh PTSD m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch t\u1eeb t\u1ed1n. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t th\u1ee9 c\u0103n b\u1ec7nh th\u1eddi th\u01b0\u1ee3ng, sang tr\u1ecdng, v\u00e0 th\u1eadt l\u00e0 d\u1ea1i d\u1ed9t n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng v\u01b0\u1edbng ph\u1ea3i c\u0103n b\u1ec7nh n\u00e0y. Fred h\u00fat c\u1ea7n sa, u\u1ed1ng r\u01b0\u1ee3u, v\u00e0 l\u00e0m th\u01a1, theo c\u00e1i th\u1ee9 t\u1ef1 \u0111\u00f3. Anh nh\u1eafc th\u1ef1c nhi\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00e1i m\u1ea3nh \u0111\u1ea5t xa x\u00f4i c\u00f3 t\u00ean g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 Vi\u1ec7t Nam sau khi h\u00fat c\u1ea7n sa, sau khi u\u1ed1ng r\u01b0\u1ee3u, v\u00e0 trong nh\u1eefng b\u00e0i th\u01a1 c\u1ee7a anh. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t x\u1ee9 s\u1edf \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00e2n hi\u1ec1n l\u00e0nh n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh v\u00e0 anh \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 y\u00eau m\u1ed9t c\u00f4 g\u00e1i \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd trong \u0111\u00e1m d\u00e2n ch\u00fang hi\u1ec1n l\u00e0nh \u0111\u00f3 n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh. Th\u01a1 anh \u0111\u1ea1i kh\u00e1i nh\u01b0 v\u1eady \u0111\u00f3. M\u1ed9t hay hai b\u00e0i th\u01a1 c\u1ee7a anh \u0111\u00e3 xu\u1ea5t hi\u1ec7n trong m\u1ed9t hay hai t\u1eadp th\u01a1 c\u00f3 ch\u1ee7 \u0111\u1ec1 chi\u1ebfn tranh Vi\u1ec7t Nam do m\u1ed9t hay hai ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n c\u1ee7a anh ch\u1ecbu tr\u00e1ch nhi\u1ec7m bi\u00ean t\u1eadp. Ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 v\u1eady th\u00f4i. Nh\u01b0ng ngay c\u1ea3 \u0111i\u1ec1u n\u00e0y c\u0169ng kh\u00f4ng l\u00e0m Fred n\u1ea3n l\u00f2ng. Anh \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng b\u1ecf qua b\u1ea5t c\u1ee9 h\u1ed9i h\u00e8 \u0111\u00ecnh \u0111\u00e1m n\u00e0o c\u00f3 li\u00ean quan \u0111\u1ebfn th\u01a1 v\u0103n v\u00e0 chi\u1ebfn tranh Vi\u1ec7t Nam. \u1ede \u0111\u00f3 anh s\u1ebd xu\u1ea5t hi\u1ec7n v\u1edbi r\u00e2u t\u00f3c l\u1edfm ch\u1edfm, v\u1edbi chi\u1ebfc b\u00ea r\u00ea \u0111en l\u1ec7ch l\u1ea1c tr\u00ean \u0111\u1ea7u m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch c\u1ed1 t\u00ecnh, v\u00e0 b\u1ed9 \u0111\u1ed3 tr\u1eadn b\u1ea1c ph\u1ebfch c\u1ee7a l\u00ednh khinh k\u1ef5 v\u1edbi huy hi\u1ec7u qu\u00e2n ch\u1ee7ng v\u00e0 h\u00e0ng ch\u1eef \u201c\u0110\u00e0 N\u1eb5ng\u201d \u1edf ng\u1ef1c \u00e1o. \u1ede \u0111\u00f3 anh s\u1ebd t\u00ecm th\u1ea5y nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u0103n m\u1eb7c t\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u1ef1, v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 trong b\u1ecdn h\u1ecd l\u00e0 b\u1ea1n c\u1ee7a anh. \u1ede \u0111\u00f3 anh th\u1ea5y m\u00ecnh quan tr\u1ecdng h\u1eb3n l\u00ean, anh thu\u1ed9c v\u1ec1 nh\u00f3m nh\u1eefng c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh l\u00e0m v\u0103n ngh\u1ec7, nh\u1eefng ngh\u1ec7 s\u0129.<\/p>\n \u1ede m\u1ed9t trong nh\u1eefng cu\u1ed9c h\u1ed9i h\u1ecdp nh\u01b0 v\u1eady anh c\u00f3 d\u1ecbp ti\u1ebfp x\u00fac v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng nh\u00e0 v\u0103n nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Vi\u1ec7t nam. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean. S\u1ebd c\u00f3 th\u00eam nh\u1eefng cu\u1ed9c g\u1eb7p g\u1ee1 t\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u1ef1 sau n\u00e0y. H\u1ecd g\u1ed3m m\u1ed9t nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 l\u00e3o th\u00e0nh, m\u1ed9t nh\u00e0 v\u0103n trung ni\u00ean, v\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef tr\u1ebb v\u1eeba vi\u1ebft v\u0103n v\u1eeba l\u00e0m th\u01a1. H\u1ecd \u0111\u1ebfn \u0111\u00e2y theo l\u1eddi m\u1eddi c\u1ee7a trung t\u00e2m nghi\u00ean c\u1ee9u h\u1eadu qu\u1ea3 chi\u1ebfn tranh thu\u1ed9c m\u1ed9t vi\u1ec7n \u0111\u1ea1i h\u1ecdc danh ti\u1ebfng c\u1ee7a th\u00e0nh ph\u1ed1. Bu\u1ed5i h\u1ed9i th\u1ea3o quy t\u1ee5 kh\u00e1 \u0111\u00f4ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi. H\u1ea7u h\u1ebft l\u00e0 c\u00e1c nh\u00e0 v\u0103n nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 g\u1ed1c g\u00e1c c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh. M\u1ed9t s\u1ed1 trong b\u1ecdn h\u1ecd kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n ph\u1ea3i nh\u00fan nh\u01b0\u1eddng, v\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u n\u00e0y \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c bi\u1ec3u l\u1ed9 trong cung c\u00e1ch t\u1ef1 gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u c\u1ee7a h\u1ecd. X, thi s\u0129, c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh. Y, nh\u00e0 v\u0103n, c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh. Z, k\u1ecbch t\u00e1c gia, c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh… Nh\u01b0ng Fred kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y kh\u00f3 ch\u1ecbu ch\u00fat n\u00e0o h\u1ebft. Ch\u1ed1c n\u1eefa \u0111\u00e2y anh s\u1ebd c\u00f3 m\u1eb7t tr\u00ean di\u1ec5n \u0111\u00e0n. Anh c\u00f3 n\u0103m ph\u00fat \u0111\u1ec3 ph\u00e1t bi\u1ec3u, v\u00e0 anh \u0111\u00e3 h\u1ee9a v\u1edbi ch\u00ednh m\u00ecnh (v\u00e0 \u0111\u1ed3ng th\u1eddi v\u1edbi ng\u01b0\u1eddi b\u1ea1n v\u1ed1n l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ch\u1ee9c s\u1eafc c\u1ee7a trung t\u00e2m) s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng hoang ph\u00ed kho\u1ea3nh kh\u1eafc qu\u00fd gi\u00e1 n\u00e0y. Ph\u1ea3i n\u00f3i l\u00e0 anh c\u00f3 ch\u00fat h\u1ed3i h\u1ed9p khi ch\u1edd \u0111\u1ebfn phi\u00ean m\u00ecnh. C\u00f3 nhi\u1ec1u h\u01a1n l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ch\u00fat.<\/p>\n \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t x\u1ee9 s\u1edf \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00e2n hi\u1ec1n l\u00e0nh n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh v\u00e0 t\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 y\u00eau m\u1ed9t c\u00f4 g\u00e1i \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd trong \u0111\u00e1m d\u00e2n ch\u00fang hi\u1ec1n l\u00e0nh \u0111\u00f3 n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh. Fred b\u1eaft \u0111\u1ea7u nh\u01b0 v\u1eady v\u00e0 ti\u1ebfp t\u1ee5c n\u00f3i v\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u t\u01b0\u01a1ng t\u1ef1 trong hai ph\u00fat ti\u1ebfp theo. \u1ede ph\u00fat th\u1ee9 ba, Fred bu\u1ed9c t\u1ed9i ch\u00ednh anh. T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 \u0111\u1ebfn, mang theo chi\u1ebfn tranh, v\u00e0 ch\u00ednh v\u00ec v\u1eady, qu\u00ea h\u01b0\u01a1ng c\u1ee7a anh ch\u1ecb \u0111\u00e3 kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t x\u1ee9 s\u1edf \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd. T\u00f4i \u0111\u00e3 ra \u0111i, \u0111\u1ec3 l\u1ea1i sau l\u01b0ng \u0111\u1ed5 n\u00e1t v\u00e0 b\u1ea5t h\u1ea1nh. \u1ede ph\u00fat th\u1ee9 t\u01b0, anh nh\u00e2n danh c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh v\u00e0 nh\u00e2n d\u00e2n Hoa K\u1ef3 ch\u00e2n th\u00e0nh xin l\u1ed7i nh\u1eefng nh\u00e0 v\u0103n nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Vi\u1ec7t Nam v\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng b\u1ea5t h\u1ea1nh do anh g\u00e2y ra \u1edf ph\u00fat th\u1ee9 ba. Nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u1ef1 kh\u00e1n nghe th\u1ea5y n\u1ed7i x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng trong gi\u1ecdng n\u00f3i \u0111\u1ee9t qu\u00e3ng c\u1ee7a Fred, tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t nh\u0103n nh\u00edu kh\u1ed5 s\u1edf c\u1ee7a anh, v\u00e0 \u1edf nh\u1eefng gi\u00e2y cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m hai m\u01b0\u01a1i gi\u00e2y c\u00f2n l\u1ea1i, trong \u0111\u00f4i m\u1eaft anh l\u00fac n\u00e0y \u0111\u00e3 nh\u00f2e nho\u1eb9t m\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft. T\u00f4i c\u1ea7u xin s\u1ef1 tha th\u1ee9 c\u1ee7a nh\u00e2n d\u00e2n Vi\u1ec7t Nam. T\u00f4i xin \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c c\u00e1i h\u00e2n h\u1ea1nh \u00f4m h\u00f4n anh ch\u1ecb, nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi d\u00e2n Vi\u1ec7t Nam anh h\u00f9ng. Anh ch\u1ea5m d\u1ee9t b\u00e0i ph\u00e1t bi\u1ec3u c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh nh\u01b0 v\u1eady. Fred r\u1eddi b\u1ee5c g\u1ed7 trong ti\u1ebfng v\u1ed7 tay r\u00e2m ran v\u00e0 b\u01b0\u1edbc \u0111\u1ebfn d\u00e3y b\u00e0n c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng nh\u00e0 v\u0103n nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb Vi\u1ec7t Nam. Anh \u00f4m h\u00f4n nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 l\u00e3o th\u00e0nh v\u00e0 nh\u1eadn ra m\u1ed9t m\u00f9i k\u1ef3 d\u1ecb t\u1eeb ng\u01b0\u1eddi \u00f4ng gi\u00e0 ph\u00e1t ra. Fred ngh\u0129 m\u00ecnh s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng mu\u1ed1n \u00f4m h\u00f4n \u00f4ng l\u00e3o n\u00e0y m\u1ed9t l\u1ea7n n\u00e0o n\u1eefa. Th\u1ef1c l\u00e0 \u0111\u00e1ng ti\u1ebfc cho anh. Anh s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng bao gi\u1edd bi\u1ebft \u0111\u01b0\u1ee3c s\u1ef1 quy\u1ebfn r\u0169 c\u1ee7a thu\u1ed1c l\u00e0o. Nh\u00e0 v\u0103n trung ni\u00ean, tr\u00e1i v\u1edbi s\u1ef1 lo ng\u1ea1i c\u1ee7a Fred, kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 m\u00f9i g\u00ec \u0111\u1eb7c bi\u1ec7t. Nh\u01b0ng ng\u01b0\u1eddi ph\u1ee5 n\u1eef tr\u1ebb l\u1ea1i l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t ng\u1ea1c nhi\u00ean th\u00edch th\u00fa. T\u1eeb c\u01a1 th\u1ec3 nh\u1ecf nh\u1eafn c\u1ee7a c\u00f4 to\u00e1t ra m\u00f9i da th\u1ecbt tr\u1ed9n l\u1eabn v\u1edbi m\u00f9i n\u01b0\u1edbc hoa th\u1ef1c l\u1ea1. Da th\u1ecbt hay n\u01b0\u1edbc hoa, m\u00f9i n\u00e0o l\u00e0 th\u01a1 c\u1ee7a c\u00f4, Fred t\u1ef1 h\u1ecfi.<\/p>\n B\u00e0i ph\u00e1t bi\u1ec3u c\u1ee7a Fred, b\u1eb1ng m\u1ed9t c\u00e1ch n\u00e0o \u0111\u00f3, \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1edf th\u00e0nh m\u1ed9t ti\u1ebft m\u1ee5c th\u01b0\u1eddng xuy\u00ean trong nh\u1eefng cu\u1ed9c h\u1ed9i th\u1ea3o sau \u0111\u00f3 c\u1ee7a trung t\u00e2m khi c\u00f3 s\u1ef1 hi\u1ec7n di\u1ec7n c\u1ee7a v\u0103n ngh\u1ec7 s\u0129 \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb c\u00e1i x\u1ee9 s\u1edf \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh. B\u00e2y gi\u1edd th\u00ec Fred \u0111\u00e3 tr\u1edf n\u00ean \u0111i\u00eau luy\u1ec7n h\u01a1n trong vi\u1ec7c tr\u00ecnh di\u1ec5n ti\u1ebft m\u1ee5c c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. Anh kh\u00f4ng c\u00f2n x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng nhi\u1ec1u nh\u01b0 l\u1ea7n \u0111\u1ea7u ti\u00ean. Anh kh\u00f4ng ch\u1eafc m\u00ecnh c\u00f3 x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng, nhi\u1ec1u ho\u1eb7c \u00edt, hay kh\u00f4ng n\u1eefa! Nh\u01b0ng Fred c\u00f3 th\u1ef1c s\u1ef1 x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng hay kh\u00f4ng kh\u00f4ng ph\u1ea3i l\u00e0 \u0111i\u1ec1u quan tr\u1ecdng. \u0110i\u1ec1u quan tr\u1ecdng \u0111\u1ebfn t\u1eeb nh\u1eefng ng\u01b0\u1eddi kh\u00e1ch ph\u01b0\u01a1ng xa. Fred c\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u1ecdc th\u1ea5y n\u1ed7i x\u00fac \u0111\u1ed9ng v\u00e0 ni\u1ec1m t\u1ef1 h\u00e0o tr\u00ean khu\u00f4n m\u1eb7t h\u1ecd. C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111i\u1ec1u n\u00e0y gi\u00fap h\u1ecd c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y b\u1edbt nh\u1ecf b\u00e9, b\u1edbt l\u1ea1c l\u00f5ng. C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 \u0111\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t trong nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u \u00edt \u1ecfi m\u00e0 h\u1ecd s\u1ebd c\u00f2n nh\u1edb \u0111\u1ebfn r\u1ea5t l\u00e2u. \u0110\u00f3 l\u00e0 m\u00f3n qu\u00e0 v\u0103n ngh\u1ec7 c\u1ee7a Fred, b\u00ean c\u1ea1nh nh\u1eefng b\u00e0i th\u01a1 khi\u00eam t\u1ed1n c\u1ee7a anh.<\/p>\n \u201cFred Woodall, c\u1ef1u chi\u1ebfn binh, thi s\u0129.\u201d B\u00e2y gi\u1edd th\u00ec Fred c\u1ea3m th\u1ea5y y\u00ean t\u00e2m v\u1edbi l\u1eddi t\u1ef1 gi\u1edbi thi\u1ec7u c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. C\u00f3 th\u1ec3 anh l\u00e0 m\u1ed9t nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 v\u1edbi nh\u1eefng t\u00e1c ph\u1ea9m khi\u00eam t\u1ed1n. Nh\u01b0ng \u0111\u00e2u ph\u1ea3i ch\u1ec9 c\u00f3 th\u01a1! C\u00f2n c\u00f3 nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u kh\u00e1c n\u1eefa, nh\u1eefng \u0111i\u1ec1u m\u00e0 anh kh\u00f4ng c\u1ea7n ph\u1ea3i nh\u00fan nh\u01b0\u1eddng v\u1ec1 kh\u1ea3 n\u0103ng c\u1ee7a m\u00ecnh. Ch\u1eb3ng h\u1ea1n nh\u01b0 ph\u00e1t bi\u1ec3u tr\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1ed9t c\u1eed t\u1ecda \u0111\u00f4ng \u0111\u1ea3o v\u1ec1 c\u00e1i x\u1ee9 s\u1edf xa t\u00edt t\u1eafp b\u1ea5t k\u1ec3 c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh hay kh\u00f4ng v\u00e0 v\u00f4 c\u00f9ng \u0111\u1eb9p \u0111\u1ebd n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 chi\u1ebfn tranh. V\u1ec1 nh\u1eefng b\u1ea5t h\u1ea1nh m\u00e0 anh \u0111\u00e3 mang \u0111\u1ebfn cho x\u1ee9 s\u1edf \u0111\u00f3. V\u00e0 nh\u1eefng l\u1eddi xin l\u1ed7i ch\u00e2n th\u00e0nh l\u1eabn trong ti\u1ebfng th\u1ed5n th\u1ee9c c\u1ee7a ni\u1ec1m \u00e2n h\u1eadn v\u00f4 bi\u00ean. V\u00e0 nh\u1eefng gi\u1ecdt n\u01b0\u1edbc m\u1eaft \u1edf nh\u1eefng gi\u00e2y cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng c\u1ee7a m\u1ed9t tr\u0103m hai m\u01b0\u01a1i gi\u00e2y cu\u1ed1i c\u00f9ng. V\u00e0 s\u1ebd kh\u00f4ng c\u00f3 nh\u00e0 th\u01a1 l\u00e3o th\u00e0nh v\u1edbi c\u00e1i m\u00f9i k\u1ef3 d\u1ecb \u1edf d\u00e3y b\u00e0n m\u00e0 anh s\u1ebd h\u01b0\u1edbng \u0111\u1ebfn khi b\u00e0i ph\u00e1t bi\u1ec3u ch\u1ea5m d\u1ee9t.<\/p>\n PN \u201cFred Woodall, war veteran, poet.\u201d He always begins the introduction like that. The name, of course, must come first. There is no other alternative. \u201cPoet\u201d is purposely placed last in the self-introduction as a display of modesty. Or at least, in earlier years, Fred believed people would acknowledge that fact. Well, I am first and foremost a veteran, I had fought in the Vietnam War, and I am now a poet. Later on, Fred sadly realizes he is actually just an average poet. He does not confess this feeling to anyone, and he knows those around him will not mention it in his presence. Luckily, he does not need to be modest about the fact he is a Vietnam veteran. Since there is no need for humility in identifying himself with a group of people who were poorly treated or thought they were unfairly treated by the citizens of their own country.<\/p>\n During the earlier years of his return to the mainland, Fred slowly and steadily developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder– a condition so trendy and rather exclusive that it would have been unwise of him not to contract it. Fred would smoke marijuana, drink wine, and write poems, in that order. After smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, he frequently mentioned that distant piece of land called Vietnam in his poetry. It could have been a beautiful country if there were no war, with gracious people if there were no war, he could have loved a pretty girl among them if there were no war. His poetry depicted a similar theme. One or two of his poems appeared in one or two war poetry anthologies edited by one or two of his friends. And that was all. But even this couldn’t discourage Fred. He never turned down any invitation to attend gatherings involving literature and the Vietnam War. There, he would appear, rough and unshaven, in his black lopsided beret, and his faded infantry uniform adorned with his unit insignia and an inscription \u201cDa Nang\u201d across the front chest pocket. There, he would find people dressed in similar attire, several among them were his friends. There, he instantly felt important; he belonged to a group of veterans who embraced literature as true artists.<\/p>\n At one of those gatherings, he had an opportunity to become acquainted with many poets and writers from Vietnam for the first time. Many similar events soon followed. Among them were a veteran poet, a middle-age fiction writer, and a young woman who wrote both prose and poetry. They came to the United States at the invitation of a reputable university\u2019s center for the study of war and social consequences. The seminar attracted a sizable crowd, mostly writers and poets who were also war veterans. A few of them didn’t need to be humble, and it showed in their self-introduction. X, poet, war veteran. Y, writer, war veteran. Z, playwright, veteran\u2026 But Fred did not feel a bit uneasy. In a few minutes, he would be up on the podium. He had five minutes to speak and he promised himself (and also his friend who held an important position at the center) that he would not waste this precious moment. He was a bit nervous while awaiting his turn. More than a bit, actually.<\/p>\n It could have been beautiful country if there were no war, with gracious people if there were no war, I could have loved a pretty girl among them if there were no war. Fred began like that and continued to express similar feelings in the next two minutes. In the third minute, he blamed himself. With my arrival, I\u2019d brought war, and because of that, your country was no longer a beautiful land. I\u2019d left, leaving behind devastation and calamity. In the fourth minute, he sent his sincere apology on behalf of all war veterans and citizens of the United States to writers and poets from Vietnam for all the misfortunes he had caused in the third minute. The audience could feel the heightened emotion in his trembling voice and contorted, agonizing face, and at the very last seconds of the remaining one hundred and twenty seconds, his eyes were soaked with tears. I beg forgiveness from you, citizens of Vietnam. I ask for the honor of embracing you, heroic citizens of Vietnam. He concluded the speech like that. Fred left the podium in triumphant rounds of applause and walked toward the table where writers and poets from Vietnam were sitting. He embraced and kissed the veteran poet and immediately detected a strange odor from the old man\u2019s body. Fred decided he wouldn’t want to hug and kiss this old man ever again. (How unfortunate! He would never know the acquired, but deeply satisfying seduction of Vietnamese tobacco.) Next, the middle-age writer, contrary to Fred\u2019s anxiety, did not possess any peculiar smell. But the young woman turned out to be a pleasant surprise. From her petite body he took in an aroma of skin and flesh infused with a mysterious fragrance. Skin and flesh or fragrance, which scent embodied her poetry, Fred wondered.<\/p>\n Somehow, Fred\u2019s speech has become a regular segment in subsequent seminars every time the Center welcomes writers and artists from that beautiful country if there were no war. Fred has become more skillful in performing his act. Now he feels less emotional comparing to the first time. He\u2019s not even certain if he feels any emotion. But Fred\u2019s real emotion is no longer an important factor. The significance of his presentation rests with the faraway guests. Fred can feel the mounting emotion and pride displayed on their faces. Perhaps his speech makes them feel less lost, less trivial. Perhaps it\u2019s one of the many little things they will continue to remember for a long time. It\u2019s Fred\u2019s gift, besides his modest poems.<\/p>\n \u201cFred Woodall, war veteran, poet.\u201d Fred now feels comfortable with his self-introduction. Maybe he is simply a poet with modest outputs. But there is more to life than poetry! There are many other things that he doesn\u2019t need to be modest about, like making a speech in front of a packed audience about a land far, far away whether or not there were war that could also be exceedingly beautiful if there were no war; the calamity he brought to that land; the choked-up apology out of endless regrets; and the tears at the very last seconds of the remaining one hundred and twenty seconds. He only hopes that there would not be any old Vietnamese poet with a strange odor sitting at the table toward which he plans to head immediately after the end of his speech.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Anh nh\u1eafc th\u1ef1c nhi\u1ec1u \u0111\u1ebfn c\u00e1i m\u1ea3nh \u0111\u1ea5t xa x\u00f4i c\u00f3 t\u00ean g\u1ecdi l\u00e0 Vi\u1ec7t Nam sau khi h\u00fat c\u1ea7n sa, sau khi u\u1ed1ng r\u01b0\u1ee3u, v\u00e0 trong nh\u1eefng b\u00e0i th\u01a1 c\u1ee7a anh. <\/p>\n Fred would smoke marijuana, drink wine, and write poems, in that order. After smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, he frequently mentioned that distant piece of land called Vietnam in his poetry. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":545,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[221,257,26,22,210,35],"tags":[281],"class_list":["post-15723","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cac-so-da-mau-dinh-ky","category-da-mau-so-29","category-dich-thuat","category-sang-tac","category-song-ngu","category-truyen-ngan","tag-phung-nguyen"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15723","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15723"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15723\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71473,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15723\/revisions\/71473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15723"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15723"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/damau.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15723"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}} |