The work appeared in a 9/2025 exam, accompanied by a request for students to write a social commentary essay on the topic: True beauty in life.

Recently, poet Nguyen Vinh Tien reposted the exam on his personal page, jokingly expressing pride that his work was chosen as material for a social commentary question. However, the poem quickly drew mixed opinions regarding its poetic form, word choice, and structure.

The exam for selecting the national gifted student team in Literature for Phu Tho province, academic year 2025-2026. *Photo: Phu Tho Department of Education and Training*

In the comments section of the poet's personal page, reader Dang Quoc Tuan wrote: "I find it half poetry, half prose. Many people find it good, but I find it jarring." Reader Thu Thao likened the poem to "an oxcart hitting potholes", while Tran Huan wondered: "Is it a poem or a fable? The analysis is roundabout and speculative, the meaning convoluted, I don't know where it will lead students' emotions."

Many people argued that the use of "may - tao" (informal "you - I") and the abbreviation "ko" (for "khong" - no) were inappropriate, and terms like "dark matter" and "virtual currency" were confusing for high school students.

Conversely, some found the work interesting, believing it could inspire students' creative interpretations. Nguyen Hoan commented: "From the beginning, I understood the message conveyed through the line 'What are you that you are so arrogant?'. Beauty is humility. Those who humble themselves will be lifted high."

Nguyen Vinh Tien wrote the poem in 1/2023, and it was published in the collection "Chaos and the Garden" (2024). The work's structure is a dialogue between God and a diamond. In response to God's questions, the diamond describes itself as "super hard", "sparkling", and "expensive", highlighting its inherent value. When God continues to introduce other elements like "idealistic economy" and "virtual currency", the diamond "bursts into tears", saying God does not cherish beauty. Ultimately, God leaves, ending the debate by suggesting that a "cow" or "weed" can also embody beauty.

Regarding the "God" imagery, the poet clarified that this is a hypothetical figure of the Creator, unrelated to any religion. The "diamond" symbolizes expensiveness and rarity, often considered beautiful. He personified these characters, creating a casual conversation.

Through the poem, Nguyen Vinh Tien aimed to discuss the shifting nature of beauty. He gave the example that in ancient times, blackened teeth were considered a beautiful trait for women, but this has since changed. Sometimes, beauty standards repeat themselves but on a higher plane. Additionally, beauty is not only found in rare and precious things but also in the simple and rustic. He shared: "This perspective creates fairness; we cannot compare the beauty of a simple statue with a magnificent masterpiece."

Regarding the use of "may - tao", the poet explained that in Vietnamese culture, this is a natural way of addressing each other among close friends or people of the same age. Similar to "you - me" in English, the meaning of the address should be understood within its context and relationship. As for "ko", the author stated that in modern poetry, symbols and abbreviations can be used as long as they do not affect the content of the poem. The author expressed openness to feedback and suggestions, but hoped readers would avoid offensive or speculative remarks.

Poet Nguyen Hoang Anh Thu suggested that one should not only look at the "correctness of words" but also consider the artistic intent. The "tao - may" address creates an ordinary, direct, and even blunt dialogue, distinct from the solemn tone often associated with the image of "God". This brings the characters of God and the diamond into a communicative space closer to modern life.

Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy, editor of Nguyen Vinh Tien's collection "Chaos and the Garden", commented that "The Beauty" has an "interesting form and rich philosophical content", making it one of the first works she chose for the poetry collection. The editor stated: "It is free verse, with unusual word combinations and imagery. The dialogue is short and sharp, describing the diamond so vividly it feels like someone around us," adding that she was pleased teachers used it as material for the exam.

The poem serves as a "launchpad" for a social commentary issue, capable of stimulating critical thinking and debate, according to poet Nguyen Hoang Anh Thu. She believes the exam's intent is clear: teachers want to address the contrast between "diamond" and "weed", "cow", between the expensive and the simple. "This issue is suitable for developing the critical thinking skills of gifted students," she added. The poet pointed out that beauty lies not only in form or material value but also in life, simplicity, diversity, and the ability to make the world meaningful.

However, Nguyen Hoang Anh Thu noted that this might not be a "safe" piece of material in terms of language and aesthetic concepts. Therefore, if used in an exam for gifted students, the phrasing of questions and grading guidelines should be "open enough for students to agree, disagree, or point out the limitations of the concept of beauty presented in the poem."

According to her, the most important point is not whether students like the work, but whether they recognize the issue: "true beauty" is not synonymous with "beauty as valued by humans". A diamond may be precious, but that does not give it the right to deny the beauty of a stream, a blade of grass, or a cow. At the same time, we should not be extreme in believing that anything that exists is inherently beautiful.

Poet, musician Nguyen Vinh Tien. *Photo: Provided by character*

Nguyen Vinh Tien, 52 years old, graduated from Hanoi University of Architecture and was formerly the head of the Architecture Faculty at Chu Van An University. He founded the "Strange Flowers" poetry group in 1992 with the aim of renewing poetry, delving into "absurdities", often blending human and natural phenomena. The poetry group also produced short works with symbolic and metaphorical elements. He has released several poetry collections, including "Secret Dreams" (1999) and "Other Dawns" (2002).

In music, Nguyen Vinh Tien was honored with the Outstanding Contemporary Folk Song Award for his composition "My Grandmother" at Bai Hat Viet 2005, and a world gold medal (music category) with musician Tran Duc Minh for the puppet show "The Fate of Kieu". His album "Cuon Phim" – a collaborative project between People's Artist Thanh Lam and the musician – was nominated for Album of the Year at the Cong Hien Awards 2026.

Phuong Linh