Ocean Vuong: Words That Sing, Stories That Soar

[{"selector":"#anim-e80f1083-ef10-4aef-9bd5-28c268aaabd3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64aa4544-f49b-475b-99ed-55ec6db71599","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 21 July, 2025 Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Night Sky with Exit Wounds (2016)

[{"selector":"#anim-7d8c6731-68b4-4191-b05b-f67b911d4307 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f93714a5-b835-4527-89dc-2816c624934e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38ec324c-d023-47b2-aea8-dca835307d6c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f8fba35f-8480-4657-b4aa-74ced92de703","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e0a8937-953a-40d6-9662-86fa8e1adc4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 215.62881%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0f0de0e-4a6a-45e5-ba92-4a1d0ef392c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f650059b-1484-4f23-af78-f019bd9a2f98","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 434.22953%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a430a540-2dbc-46a6-a8df-c61f3b01d089","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a41508d-1647-4c36-8a02-76d6457456e3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Awarded the T.S. Eliot Prize, this debut poetry collection blends history, identity, and raw beauty in vivid verse. Credit: Amazon.com

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous (2019)

[{"selector":"#anim-29c193c5-6f0f-4a22-936c-2aba1a1d6d3e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c6710d8-8b0c-4a91-a40f-f74ceb7b4f4d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b3e6299-0af8-46f6-aa48-ff82dea552bb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33d0637e-288f-46f2-84b4-25318937afbf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bfbd10d0-feab-41c2-8ae9-0df29e8a8d88","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 215.62881%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f5c7a135-dae8-406f-bc32-df111133477a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d2e3f48-b5a0-4707-bc8e-0811886f8a92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 432.61655%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c6db423-2aae-4c7e-8070-745a59fec51d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-92f61555-60a6-4e5a-bd12-b5364a9372d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A powerful epistolary novel—written as a letter to his mother—exploring trauma, love, and the immigrant experience. Credit: Amazon.com

Time Is a Mother (2022)

[{"selector":"#anim-dedf822f-5cac-498d-9027-86c20c983f48 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fdd7843a-9989-420c-855d-56d2a2fec97c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-494bcbe8-1675-4ae3-afe9-c3b22d293e8d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6012781-513b-463a-ac24-215bcd6a2dd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cc9eab4-ef7f-460a-b0a9-f1a8b9a2d438","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 248.59585%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3aa4d52-dc9c-4147-b0f9-9b0fdd230910","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9354ed98-dc71-4d0f-8492-e5aaa8772e01","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 868.45907%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-966235e1-4370-45ea-bb2c-00b3b3fa4071","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f4c96de-a3a5-4599-93aa-e85f3ab7cd2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A lyrical and grief-infused poetry collection reflecting on his mother’s death and the passage of time. Credit: Amazon.com

The Emperor of Gladness (2025)

[{"selector":"#anim-7a099763-f544-479e-bf03-b01992e5d6a3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adf91220-fddf-4fbf-b951-3b4aa6e6b66c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30b7fef7-5b28-4d91-b99b-a1de40363469","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8f18fee-694b-4ab0-948b-f3dbea2defdd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd553076-dad8-4e14-8d5b-11bc40b1c2f4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 227.71669%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ef8cfbd-32e9-478b-a8a8-20dff8a6fe8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3458c20f-3faa-4eaa-9364-8364f5adc055","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 434.22953%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-69311d2d-81fb-46f5-a922-579fef1b2289","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eec90e9d-e40b-45e0-88b7-b476e7431b9f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] His latest novel dives into themes of labor, connection, and humanity, inspired by his own life and service work. Credit: Amazon.com

Writing Soundtrack – Sufjan Stevens & More

[{"selector":"#anim-b92aa11d-bf3b-457b-abfc-69f518121a18 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.552713678800501e-15%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-707f8ee1-317b-4a55-a96f-e580f24fa9dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5997abe5-25c8-4476-8064-2ab8cd362e48","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8b645f7-84f5-45cb-9302-11bb69164a9f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91704690-07c3-446b-b506-59135a5e608a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 215.62881%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-822b2da1-3976-4b5d-9620-5ea23f64d3d2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-317d44f6-8107-482e-88e2-aed7f28d9c3f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 434.22953%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16a1e2d6-cad7-4c9b-867e-c9e5ee115826","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b677c09d-61cb-4081-9542-53e8517637b3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Vuong cites Sufjan Stevens (especially Carrie & Lowell ) as a key creative influence, praising his tender, image-rich lyricism. Credit: Wikipedia

Art That Proves We Were Here

[{"selector":"#anim-8ed1fc1d-6807-4918-abdf-ee2dfbb4dc72 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dbfc54e-9e77-4af6-836d-97b85dfc8a11","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07b5ee78-e0a8-4c3f-a897-f6590e77decf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -734.55085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-721ad03f-79b3-4724-aebe-a673736f4a57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52a41971-ac73-42b5-9ea2-b59b88363e50","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 227.71669%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54a25293-4f07-489d-8bb2-4cf994f64f9d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43099aac-0ef2-4562-aacf-04533d31d223","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 434.22953%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-418a30d2-e799-4948-9113-11249d070410","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54324582-5cfb-4e13-a75a-bae49c15a3df","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 457.63847%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] He believes music and poetry alike are “made of air—and yet we walk on them”—a powerful metaphor for art’s real-world impact. Credit: Pexels

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Ocean Vuong: Words That Sing, Stories That Soar