Essay Prompt: Analyze the beauty of life's painting in the verse: 'I want to turn off the sun... a pair of lips nearby'
Part 1: Outline analyzing the beauty of life's painting in the verse: 'I want to turn off the sun... a pair of lips nearby'
Part 2: Sample essay Analyzing the beauty of life's painting in the verse: 'I want to turn off the sun... a pair of lips nearby'
Essay:
In the new poetry movement from 1932-1945, Xuân Diệu emerged as a new poet among the new poets. His poetry always brims with vitality, with intense, passionate love, coupled with an enduring obsession with time. 'Rushed and Earnest' is often considered one of Xuân Diệu's most famous works, elevating his name among a myriad of new poets. The poem harmoniously combines the wild and innocent personal identity of the poet with a vivid, passionately yearning portrayal of life. Through this, we witness a profound love for nature, life, and the poignant philosophy of time by the poetry king.
Let's explore the beauty of the life's canvas through a small excerpt from the poem 'Rushed and Earnest':
'I want to turn off the sun
So colors don't fade away;
I want to restrain the wind
So fragrances don't fly away.
This bee's honey here weeks and months;
Here, flowers in the inner field are lush green;
Here, leaves of the silky branches flutter;
This swallow's song here is a melodious love.
And here, the lightning-like twinkle of the eyelashes;
Every morning, joy knocks at the door;
January is sweet like a pair of lips nearby;'
In a poetic tone rich, intoxicating, and familiar, the portrayal of nature and life in 'Rushed and Earnest' appears genuinely beautiful, brimming with vitality. It makes one feel the excitement and the love for life of Xuân Diệu seemingly overflowing in every verse.
With the first four lines, using the 5-character verse form not typically associated with the entire poem, Xuân Diệu expresses an innocent and wild desire. He wants to 'turn off the sun' and at the same time 'restrain the wind.' These are fantastical events beyond human capabilities, yet they reveal a heartfelt desire and regret for life's most beautiful moments. Xuân Diệu wants to turn off the sun to 'prevent colors from fading away' and restrain the wind to avoid it carrying away wonderful fragrances. Truly, few possess a sense of regret, audacity, and innocence like Xuân Diệu.
After concise and vivid desires in the initial four lines, the poetic flow shifts to a vivid and beautiful portrayal of nature in the eyes of the poetry king. It unfolds with bees and butterflies playfully dancing, as sweet as lovers entwined in their 'honeymoon weeks.' Lush, vibrant flowers adorn the inner field with a 'lush green' hue, exuding the freshness and vitality of youth. Somewhere, fresh young leaves of the 'swaying branches' dance in the crisp spring breeze. All these elements come together, creating a world rich in the hues of truly romantic love, lofty and vibrant.
Transitioning from visual perceptions to auditory sensations, Xuân Diệu notices the joyful songs of swallows, akin to 'melodious love,' a jubilant expression of love, life, and youth. The morning light seems to seep through the eyelashes of a young girl, a delightful association in Xuân Diệu's enchanting and romantic world. The line 'Every morning, Joy knocks on the door' presents a novel perspective on life, portraying each day as a source of joy and indescribable happiness. Shifting from auditory to gustatory senses, encompassing the January air of spring, Xuân Diệu concludes, 'January is sweet like a pair of lips nearby.' The beauty of spring, though untouchable, is eloquently associated with the exquisite 'sweetness' of a young girl's lips, full, vibrant, and brimming with life. It reflects the longing to love, to savor the passionate youth, as expressed by the poet.
Thus, in just a short excerpt from the poem 'Rushed and Earnest,' we witness a lively and vibrant portrayal of life through Xuân Diệu's refined, rich, and profound verses. It not only explores the poet's perspective and philosophy on the wonderful and happy earthly life but also delves into his regrets and desires to preserve those beautiful moments in life.
