Author Description

WINNER OF THE 2017 CICADA PRIZE FOR POETRY! PAPERBACK NOW INCLUDES FREE DOWNLOAD OF THE KINDLE EBOOK BEST-SELLER With 15 published books to date, Mai Van Phan's latest book Seeds of Night and Day brings the voice of the Vietnamese Poet to international readers in this bilingual book. Now poetry readers worldwide are able to gain a rare glimpse inside Vietnam and the Vietnamese culture. The turbid past, contemporary progressive present and unpredictable future, as seen through the eyes, heart and soul of one of Vietnam's most prolific and thought provoking contemporary poets. Mai Van Phan writes in his native language. The Vietamese language is emotional, expressive, precise, symbolic and metaphorical. His poems are rich with memories, experiences and strong emotions...In Seeds of Night and Day, Mai Van Phan unearths even deeper truth. His words express the value of culture, spirit, traditions and customs of the Vietnamese people. Here, the poet speaks up about the joy and immense sadness that his people have been through. His poems illuminate and reveal poverty, diseases, suffering and backwardness while at the same time capturing the heart and soul and expressions of the Vietnamese people. His words move forward, just as his country is moving forward. The poet becomes part of social change. For it is said that the greater impact of the poet, the larger and more unique poetry atmosphere it can spread...the more positive effect it can cause to the society. The poet is the one who designs a structure for the society and nature in his own way. This rare honest insight is expressed freely in this long awaited book. Poet Mai Van Phan says, "We always have hope for a brighter future, like seeds that are sown in the darkness and move towards the light." He explores the mystery and complexity of human nature and the natural world. A radiant dawn, a worm in the leaf, and the sigh of a woman...