Analyzing 'Autumn Fishing' (Thu Điếu) by Nguyen Khuyen

Exploring the depths of Nguyen Khuyen's poem 'Autumn Fishing' through critical analysis

I. Outline for Analyzing Autumn Fishing

1. Introduction

- Insight into the author Nguyen Khuyen: deeply influenced by Confucian thoughts, his works often revolve around human ethics and the noble person's conduct. Retreating from a complex reality, he concealed himself to create pieces reflecting harmony with the serene nature.
- Poem 'Autumn Fishing': A part of the third autumn poem composed during the author's period of seclusion

2. Body of the Essay

* Two opening lines
- Autumn evokes two contrasting yet harmoniously balanced images, 'autumn pond' and the 'tiny fishing boat';
+ The 'clear' color: the gentle simplicity of autumn
+ Image: The small fishing boat ⇒ very petite
+ The rhyme scheme 'eo': rich in expressive power...(Continued)

>> See details of the Outline for Analyzing the poem 'Autumn Fishing' here.
 

II. Analyzing 'Autumn Fishing' by Nguyen Khuyen

1. Sample Analysis of the poem 'Autumn Fishing,' Sample 1:

Thu Điếu is part of the autumn poem trilogy, the most renowned in Nôm poetry by Nguyen Khuyen. The poem depicts the serene beauty of autumn in ancient villages, expressing the enchanting yet lonely and melancholic love of a Confucian scholar for his homeland. Like Autumn Aroma and Autumn Ode, Thu Điếu could only be written by Nguyen Khuyen after he retired to live in his hometown (1884).
Two poetic lines: The cold autumn pond, crystal-clear water - A tiny fishing boat unveils an artistic space, a rural autumn landscape. The transparent autumn pond allows us to see moss at the bottom, exuding a chilly autumn air that envelops the space. No longer is it the early autumn chill, but rather the late fall, hence the chill. A tiny fishing boat has been on the autumn pond for who knows how long. It vividly portrays the loneliness of the fishing boat. 'Tiny' means very small; the poetic rhythm suggests the allure of the scenery (clear - tiny). It is a beautiful and tranquil autumn feature.

Sample essay analyzing the poem 'Autumn Fishing' for grade 11 in detail

The actual lines (Water ripples follow the gentle breath - Yellow leaves lightly sway with the wind) describe a two-dimensional space. Harmonious colors, with blue-tinged waves matching yellow leaves. Even a gentle breeze is enough to make the yellow autumn leaves sway, creating ripples in the blue waves. The artistic technique contrasts elements to highlight an aspect of autumn, intensifying both the visual and auditory senses. Nguyen Khuyen's pen is delicate in word choice and perception, blending the gentle ripple of the waves with the subtle swaying of the autumn leaves. The word 'sway' is a personal name that, later, poet Tan Da admired and felt a deep connection with. He confessed that a lifetime of poetry could only produce one line that satisfied him: leaves sway, covering the courtyard (sensing autumn, bidding farewell to autumn).
The autumn picture expands through two poetic lines:

Clouds float lightly in the deep blue sky
Bamboo alleys twist around, desolate and empty.

The autumn sky is deep and vast, painted with an intense green. Wispy clouds, layers of clouds (white or pink?) drift lightly. Spacious, serene, calm, and gentle. Not a soul passes along the village road towards the lanes: Bamboo lanes twist around, desolate and empty. 'Desolate and empty' implies an utter silence, portraying loneliness and emptiness. The bamboo lane in Tam Nguyen Yen Do's poetry always depicts a countryside with much nostalgia and subtlety:

Through the years, where did that bamboo lane go?
Whose boat awaits by the deserted wharf?
(Remembering Mount Doi)

The bamboo lane and layers of clouds are familiar features of the countryside. The poet seems to silently gaze and dreamily immerse in the scenery.
In the final two lines, the autumn picture introduces another element:

Leaning against the pillow, hugging the fishing rod for so long, but no catch is made
The fish barely make a ripple beneath the water's edge.

Autumn fishing is the season of catching fish. The first six sentences depict the scenery: the autumn pond, the fishing boat, the azure waves, yellow leaves, cloud layers, and bamboo lanes. Only in the conclusion does the fisherman appear. A relaxed posture: leaning on a pillow, embracing the fishing rod. An anticipation: long-awaited. A sudden awakening when faintly hearing the fish bite under the water plants. The fisherman seems to be soothing his soul in the dream of autumn. Readers think of a legendary angler, Lao Vong, waiting by the V River more than a few thousand years ago. Only the sound of a fish biting after the sound of autumn leaves falling, that is the autumn sound of the ancient village. That sound blends with a sound of a waterfowl in the sky, taking our souls back to the autumn of the homeland. The fisherman lives in a lonely and quietly sad mood. A pure life, a noble soul worth cherishing.

"""-- END OF PART 1 """"--

After referring to the sample analysis of the autumn fishing poem, to study well the poems and essays in the 11th-grade literature program, students need to refer to sample essays Composing the Hate-Love Principle (excerpt from the story of Luc Vien Tien), Reading the poem Love for the Wife, Composing the Fleeing Enemy, The heartfelt confession of the character through the poem Self-expression,....

2. Sample Analysis of Autumn Fishing, Sample 2:

In the realm of folk poetry, numerous exquisite poems celebrate the beauty of autumn. Notably, Nguyen Khuyen crafted a trio of poems: Autumn Elegy, Autumn Dusk, and Autumn Sonnet. Each poem is a masterpiece, portraying a profound affection for the homeland. Particularly, the poem 'Autumn Sonnet' has been asserted by the poet Xuan Dieu as 'the epitome of Vietnam's countryside autumn.' This poetic piece vividly describes the picturesque autumn scenery, the love for nature, and the deep attachment to the enchanting autumn season intertwined with a fervent love for the homeland.
'Autumn Sonnet' is composed in the form of a seven-word, eight-line poem following the Duong law, employing refined language, vivid imagery, and expressive emotions. The beautiful autumn landscape of Vietnamese villages comes to life through the poetic charm of Nguyen Khuyen's pen.
The first two lines depict an autumn pond and a fishing boat. The pond's 'crystal-clear' water exhales the 'chilliness' of autumn. The autumn mist blankets the scenery. The autumn water becomes even clearer, and the autumn air turns 'icy.' A tiny fishing boat is faintly visible on the water - 'small and delicate.' The pond and the fishing boat are the central images of the poem, portraying the simple, familiar, and endearing scenes of the homeland. According to Xuan Dieu, the flatlands of Binh Luc, Ha Nam, are dotted with ponds, hence the small size of the pond and the correspondingly 'small and delicate' fishing boat.

The phrases 'chilliness,' 'crystal-clear,' and 'small and delicate' artistically depict the lines, shapes, and colors of the scenery, the autumnal shades of water; the resonating words of the poem echo like the sound of autumn, the spirit of longing for autumn.

Analyzing the Best Autumn Fishing Poems

The subsequent lines in the tangible realm are brush strokes portraying the essence of autumn:

'Azure waves follow a gentle breeze,
Golden leaves sway lightly in the wind.'

The 'azure' hue of the waves harmonizes with the 'golden' shade of the leaves, creating a painting of the simple yet magnificent countryside. The contrast in the tangible part is exquisite; 'golden leaves' with 'azure waves,' the 'gentle' speed of leaves corresponds to the 'slight' undulation of the waves. Poet Tan Da lavishly praised the word 'undulation' in Nguyen Khuyen's poetry, stating that in his lifetime, he might only achieve a line as pleasing as 'Leaves look full, rustling with the wind' in the poem 'Sensations of Autumn, Farewell to Autumn.'
The two closing lines expand the descriptive space. The autumn picture gains the height of the 'deep blue' sky with 'floating' layers of clouds drifting with the gentle breeze. In the cluster of autumn poems, Nguyen Khuyen identifies the autumn sky's hue as 'deep blue':

- 'Autumn sky deep blue in several layers high
(Autumn Elegy)
- 'Whose skin dyes the sky deep blue'
(Autumn Dusk)
- 'Layers of clouds drifting in the deep blue sky'
(Autumn Sonnet)

'Deep blue' is a hue with depth. The autumn sky, cloudless (gray clouds absent), is a profound shade of 'deep blue.' This hue evokes the depth, the calmness of space, the poet's contemplative gaze, of the old man fishing. Then, in a trance, he shifts his eyes towards the four directions of the village. It seems that the villagers have all gone to the fields. The hamlet is silent, deserted. Winding roads curve mysteriously, eerily silent, not a soul in sight:

'Around the winding bamboo lane, guests are nowhere to be seen.'

The landscape is tranquil, a hint of a lonely, faint sadness. The fisherman seems immersed in the dream of autumn. All scenes, from the surface of the 'chilly autumn pond' to the 'small and delicate fishing boat,' from the 'azure waves' to the 'golden leaves,' from 'floating layers of clouds' to the 'winding bamboo lane,' emerge with lines, colors, sounds, ... sometimes with a touch of ambiguity, melancholy, yet very close, intimate with every Vietnamese person. How endearing is the natural scenery of the homeland's autumn!
The essence of the poem 'Autumn Sonnet' lies in its concluding two lines:

'Leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod for long in vain,
No fish bites, motionless under the waterweed.'

'Leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod' is the posture of a fisherman, also a leisurely mindset of the poet who has escaped the circle of fame. The sound 'no fish bites, motionless,' especially 'bites,' evokes a sense of vagueness, remoteness, and sudden awakening. The fisherman here is the poet, a high-ranking official in the Nguyen dynasty, patriotic but powerless in the face of the times, unwilling to serve as a pawn for the French colonialists who claimed illness to escape official duties. Behind the words emerges a clear-minded scholar escaping life to live in seclusion. While embracing the fishing rod, the poet is fishing, but his soul is immersed in the dream of autumn, suddenly awakening to reality when 'No fish bites, motionless under the waterweed.' Therefore, the scene of the autumn pond, the calm autumn sky, silent and deserted, reflects the poet's heart — melancholy and empty.

The sound of the fish 'motionless under the waterweed' highlights the desolate scene of the autumn pond. The landscape seems to always intertwine with human emotions. Nature, for Nguyen Khuyen, is like an intimate friend. He has poured his emotions, entrusted his soul, sought solace in nature, in the 'golden' hue of autumn leaves, in the 'deep blue' of the autumn sky, in the 'azure waves' on the chilly surface of the autumn pond...

Indeed, 'Autumn Sonnet' is an exceptionally vivid poem by Nguyen Khuyen describing the atmosphere of rural life. The autumn scenery of the homeland is depicted with rich and subtle shades, delicate and sensual strokes. The sound of falling leaves 'swaying lightly' in the autumn breeze, the sound of fish 'motionless' under the waterweed - these are the rustic sounds of autumn, familiar to the countryside, evoking in us beautiful memories of the homeland.

The art of rhyme in Nguyen Khuyen's work is truly unique. The rhyme 'eo' flows naturally and comfortably in the poem, leaving an unforgettable impression on the reader; the rhythm of these verses is like a magnet drawing us in: crystal-clear - small and delicate - lightly swaying - nowhere to be seen - under the waterweed. Poet Xuan Dieu once wrote: 'The charm of 'Autumn Sonnet' lies in the green tones, the green of the pond, the green of the banks, the green of the waves, the green of the bamboo, the green of the sky, the green of the waterweed, the green of the water edge, with a crossing yellow leaf'...

Poetry is the art of embellishing the soul. Nguyen Khuyen adored the autumnal nature, embraced the rural landscapes with all the warmth of his homeland. He is the poet of Vietnam's countryside. Reading 'Autumn Sonnet,' 'Autumn Elegy,' 'Autumn Dusk,' we grow fonder of our homeland's autumn, of the internal hamlets, and our nation. For Nguyen Khuyen, describing and loving the beautiful autumn is akin to loving the homeland. He is an exceptional poet who has earned a resplendent position in the classical poetry of Vietnam.

3. Sample Analysis of 'Autumn Fishing,' Sample 3:

As autumn sets in with its muted, melancholic colors, chilly winds, and the gentle fall of yellow leaves, the landscape appears desolate, stark. Autumn perhaps evokes the most nostalgia and serves as an endless source of inspiration for artists. Turning back the wheels of history, one encounters magnificent autumns in the verses of generations. Speaking of autumn inevitably brings to mind 'Autumn Fishing' by Nguyen Khuyen – an autumn tableau that Xuan Dieu once praised as 'more exemplary than any other for the autumn of Vietnam's countryside.'

The autumn pond, chilly and crystalline,
A tiny fishing boat, small and delicate.
Azure waves follow a gentle breeze,
Golden leaves sway lightly in the wind.
Layers of clouds drift in the deep blue sky,
Around the winding bamboo lane, guests are nowhere to be seen.
Leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod for long in vain,
No fish bites, motionless under the waterweed.

Upon encountering the poem, the first thing that strikes us is the density of the rhyme 'eo' within it. Let's count: there are a total of seven instances of the rhyme 'eo.' Notably in Vietnamese, 'eo' often conveys a sense of compression, contraction, crystallization within its smallest confines. The autumn sky already carries a chill, further intensified by the phrase 'chilly autumn.' The autumn pond, already clear, becomes even more so with the term 'crystal-clear.' The vast emptiness magnifies the tiny fishing boat, making it even smaller when the author perceives it as 'small and delicate.' The image 'Golden leaves sway lightly in the wind' unexpectedly brings to mind two verses by Tran Dang Khoa:

On the porch falls a leaf of the banyan tree,
The falling sound is so delicate, as if falling askew.

Guide for Analyzing Nguyen Khuyen's 'Autumn Fishing'

Returning to Nguyen Khuyen's verse, the verb 'sway' evokes the leaf's falling askew. The phrase 'lightly swaying' in the verse has a peculiar dynamic verb structure, making it seem as though the falling is not a reality but is occurring in the poet's consciousness. That leaf of the poet, from Yen Do village, and Tran Dang Khoa is like an illusion. In that illusion, both the reader and the author seemingly lose control over whether it is real or not. The autumn picture gently stirs beneath the poet's sketch.
Contrary to 'Autumn Elegy,' the autumn picture in 'Autumn Fishing' is not set in a vast space but is confined within the small realm of the 'autumn pond.' Those two words, 'autumn pond,' seem somewhat strange, distinctive. The image of the 'autumn pond' seems to emphasize its peculiar smallness.
The entire frame is painted like a miniature picture that can fit in the palm of our hands. There's something quaint, charming, and extraordinarily captivating about it. It encapsulates the entire space, the silent Vietnamese countryside, yet harbors an intense vitality.
Here, the space expands, the poet shifts the perspective from the small realm of the 'autumn pond' to the vast expanse of the sky. There, the poet observes:

'Cloud layers drifting in the deep blue sky.'

The verb 'drifting' suggests a motion that seems to stand still. Autumn clouds gently shift, one by one, floating in the deep blue autumn sky. The movement of the fishing boat is similar, gently swaying in the waves of autumn water.

Returning to the verse:

'Azure waves follow a gentle breeze.'

It appears to possess something remarkably striking. The word 'layer' emerges, rendering the scenery elusive, challenging to grasp. 'A gentle breeze' conjures before us an image of waves. It's not tumultuous like ocean waves but rather gently rolling and spreading across the surface of the lake. The autumn picture seems to immerse itself in that serene, tranquil stillness.
There's a saying that exceptional beauty always carries a touch of peculiarity. Therefore, the verse:

'The bamboo lane twists and turns, deserted.'

While evoking a tingling sensation, the autumn picture here maintains a poetic, peaceful, and pure beauty. The human aspect of the poet becomes somewhat more apparent:

'Leaning on a pillow, the fishing rod released for long, in vain
Where are the fish, stirring under the water lily's feet?'

The phrase 'Leaning on a pillow, embracing the fishing rod' is peculiar. It seems to confess that the poet is contemplating something intense, something tearing at him. Perhaps it's the sorrow of the times, a sorrow that lingers until the end of the poet's life. The conclusion of the autumn landscape, silent as if awakened by the strong exhalation of the phrase 'stirring under the water lily's feet.' It creates a contrast in the poem: The scenery above is described as a still, desolate painting, then at the end, it begins to embrace life, the picture becomes vivid. However, it also makes the poem incredibly silent. The three words 'stirring under' rise slightly, then are suppressed under the intense control of the rhyme 'eo.' The use of motion to express stillness makes the landscape in the poem even more silent, and the sorrow envelops the vast scene.

The poem also carries the green hue of the sky, of the leaves, of the autumn water. All blending together creates a harmonious and balanced painting, with a distinct color of Vietnam. A yellow leaf piercing through adds a new and strange beauty to the autumn picture.

Reading 'Autumn Fishing,' one falls deeper in love with the rivers and mountains of this Vietnamese land. The autumn picture captures the natural beauty of Vietnam amidst the chaotic changes of life. Sometimes, we should pause to appreciate 'Autumn Fishing,' to purify our souls, to love our homeland even more, to cherish the purity and richness of the Vietnamese language...
 

4. Sample essay Analyzing Autumn Fishing, sample number 4:

Fishing is a refined pleasure for intellectuals. Some wise men, talented and patient, indulge in fishing while waiting for destiny to unfold. Sitting by the shore, who thinks about the complexities spanning the four seas, contemplating the world turned upside down? 'Fish eating the bait, tails flicking on the bank' (some even use the fishing hook like Khương Tử Nha in China). Others, like the great scholar, wield the fishing rod to savor leisurely pleasures, harmonizing with nature, contemplating in a state of relaxation. Nguyễn Khuyến approached fishing in this manner. He opened all his senses to feel the autumn, the fishing season in the North. Like the children in the village, he fished with focus, excitement, and passion. The result of this playful pursuit is the masterpiece 'Autumn Tune,' a gem in the national literary heritage:

Cold autumn pond, clear and crisp water,
A tiny fishing boat sways gently.
Blue-gray waves follow the gentle breath,
Yellow leaves delicately sway before the wind.
Layers of clouds hover in the deep blue sky.
Winding bamboo paths, guests are scarce.
Leaning on a pillow, embracing the fishing rod for long is futile,
Where are the fish, stirring beneath the lotus feet.

The autumn scene unfolds in the poem within the confined space of the author's rural village, in a small pond with a delicate fishing boat:

Cold autumn pond, clear and crisp water,
A tiny fishing boat sways gently.

Behind the veil of words lies a sentiment steeped in introspection. The poet's emotions manifest with precision and sophistication. As autumn deepens into twilight, the 'chilly autumn pond' with its crystal-clear surface beckons one's gaze, resembling a round mirror in the village. The poet's 'Bui Village' is adorned with numerous ponds, both small and enchanting. In these diminutive waters, small fishing boats gracefully navigate, their slender frames daring the perils of fate. Yet, the verses flow effortlessly, seemingly devoid of artifice.

Sample analysis of 'Autumn Fishing' by Nguyen Khuyen

The fishing boat emerges, but the angler remains elusive. Nothing seems urgent or noteworthy. The angler, absorbed in the water's autumnal charm, pays no heed:

Azure waves trail the gentle breath,
Yellow leaves sway delicately before the breeze.

The autumn pond is no longer tranquil; it now ripples with the melody of two trills at the beginning (azure waves) and two at the end (gentle breath). The small waves, born from the petite pond, dance in obscurity. A gentle breeze, a whimsical autumn breeze. The waves even bear color, 'azure waves,' truly exquisite. The author's pen is meticulous, attending to every small detail. The juxtaposition of 'azure waves' with 'yellow leaves' in two perfectly aligned lines highlights the characteristic colors of autumn. 'Gentle breath' harmonizing with 'sway delicately,' the vertical motion mirroring the horizontal gracefully.

Yellow leaves sway delicately before the breeze.

The poet released their spirit with the 'yellow leaf' gently swaying on the pristine pond. The golden hue of autumn, praised by countless poets:

A golden deer gazes in wonder,
Steps on dry golden leaves,
(Luu Trong Luong)
Gold falls! Gold falls! Autumn boundless.
(Bich Khe)

Behold, Nguyen Khuyen's golden leaf in the poem 'Autumn Ode,' as viewed through the eyes of Xuan Dieu: 'The allure of Autumn Ode lies in various shades of green—green pond, green bank, green waves, green bamboo, green sky, green water hyacinth—all interrupted by the horizontal thrust of a falling autumn leaf.' Xuan Dieu's commentary resonates profoundly.
The poet elevates the space, creating an atmosphere of freshness and expansive dimensions. The canvas of 'Autumn Ode' gains additional strokes and hues:

Layers of clouds drift in the deep blue sky,
Bamboo-lined lanes curve, devoid of passersby.

The hue of the sky is 'deep blue,' a captivating and earnest shade of green. Within this 'deep blue,' there lies a profound sense of height. Clouds do not merely drift; they 'hover,' white wisps 'hovering' in the 'deep blue' sky, exuding tranquility. The poet then returns to a close-up with a portrayal of the village. 'Bamboo-lined lanes curve,' the winding village paths, familiar with the cooling shade of bamboo. Yet, in Nguyen Khuyen's poetry, bamboo is more than just bamboo, 'Bamboo bends, dancing in the wind's chill' (Autumn Verses), 'Bamboo-lined lanes curve, devoid of passersby.' Nguyen Khuyen appreciates the dignified presence of this vibrant plant, 'Even if the bamboo burns, it burns straight away.' The straight lines of bamboo contrast sensually with the curves of the village roads. Cold sky, deserted rural paths, 'devoid of passersby.' A poignant autumn tableau. Following Nguyen Khuyen, the romantic poet Xuan Dieu also writes:

Chilled whispers traverse the wind
Boats depart, leaving a vacant shore.
(Here comes autumn)

The poem concludes with an evocative depiction of the angler, resembling a self-portrait:

Leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod forlorn,
No fish stirs beneath the swaying reeds.

The poet withdraws into contemplation, 'leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod,' as if mirroring the small frame of the pond and the 'slender' fishing boat. The angler, lost in thought, is abruptly stirred by a simple gesture:

No fish stirs beneath the swaying reeds.

The trio of 'd' sounds ('where,' 'bite,' 'stirs') depicts a subtle disturbance in the pond and an intricate turmoil within, masterfully articulated. Some argue that Nguyen Khuyen's fishing gestures resemble those of Khuong Tu Nha, lavishing praise on both. No! Nguyen Khuyen is not waiting for his time. The poet simply seeks immersion in nature, in the land and waters. The entire poetic imagery of 'Autumn Fishing' is tailored to this attitude. A narrow scene, a small pond, a 'slender' boat. The poet withdraws, 'leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod,' harmonizing with nature, merging with the land and waters. How then can Nguyen Khuyen's fishing demeanor be compared to Khuong Tu Nha's? Agreement with someone is a personal matter. I agree with Nguyen Khuyen.

Among Nguyen Khuyen's poems on autumn, if one must be chosen, it's 'Autumn Fishing.' The poem is a masterpiece in the country's classical poetry. The autumn scene is described with delicate harmonies and sensual lines. The unique melody is both daring and natural. According to Xuan Dieu, not a single word is superfluous in the entire poem. Truly a skilled artist. The poet's sentiment matches the talent. The poet's love for the homeland's landscapes, embedded in every word, touches every Vietnamese soul.

5. Analysis of 'Autumn Fishing' by Nguyen Khuyen, Sample 5:

For 'Autumn Fishing,' poet Xuan Dieu asserts it is 'more typical than any other for the autumn of Vietnam's landscapes.' 'Autumn Fishing' portrays the charming scenes of homeland autumn, the love for nature, and the deep attachment to the beautiful autumn connected with a profound love for the homeland. 'Autumn Fishing' is written in the regulated poetry form, using refined language, vivid imagery, and expressive language. The enchanting autumn, the beautiful sky of the Vietnamese countryside, emerges in splendid form and color under the poetic penmanship of Nguyen Khuyen.

The first two lines speak of the autumn pond and the fishing boat. The pond's water is 'crystal-clear,' exhaling the chilly breath of fall. Autumn mist envelops the landscape. The once serene autumn pond now appears even clearer, the cool autumn air turning 'chilly.' A faint silhouette of a tiny fishing boat emerges on the water – 'slender and delicate.' The pond and the fishing boat stand as the central images of the poem, portraying the simple, familiar, and endearing scenes of the homeland. According to Xuan Dieu, the Binh Luc, Ha Nam region with its numerous ponds gives rise to small ponds, and in these petite waters, the fishing boats are equally 'slender and delicate.'

'Autumn pond, water crystal-clear,
A tiny fishing boat slender and delicate.'

The phrases 'chilly,' 'crystal-clear,' 'slender and delicate' vividly depict the lines, forms, and colors of the autumn scenery; the resonant words echo like the sound of autumn, the spirit of hopeful autumn.

Analyzing 'Autumn Fishing' reveals the distinctive rural landscape in Nguyen Khuyen's poetry.

The next two lines in the realistic section are masterfully crafted strokes that further elucidate the soul of the autumn scene:

'Azure waves follow the gentle breath,
Yellow leaves sway delicately before the breeze.'

The 'azure' hue of the waves harmonizes with the 'yellow' shade of the leaves, creating a splendid yet simple rural portrait. The art of juxtaposition in the realistic section is exquisite, connecting 'yellow leaves' with 'azure waves,' and the 'gentle' swaying speed of the leaves corresponds to the 'slight' movement of the waves. Poet Tan Da lavished praise on the word 'swaying' in Nguyen Khuyen's poetry, expressing that in his entire poetic career, he might achieve a line as satisfying as the one in 'Feeling Autumn, Bidding Farewell to Autumn': 'Leaves swaying, covering the courtyard full.'

The following two lines broaden the descriptive space. The autumn picture gains height with the 'deep blue' sky and drifting layers of clouds 'floating' in the gentle breeze. In the collection of autumn poems, Nguyen Khuyen identifies the autumn sky's hue as 'deep blue.'

'Autumn sky deep blue in multiple layers'
(Autumn Ode)
'Sky's skin dyed in deep blue'
(Moistened Thatch)
'Layers of clouds floating in the deep blue sky'
(Autumn Fishing)

'Deep blue' signifies a profound green. The autumn sky, devoid of clouds (gray clouds), is a profound shade of deep blue. The deep blue evokes depth, the profound gaze of the poet, of the old man fishing. Then, the old man absentmindedly gazes towards the four corners of the village. It seems the rural residents have all gone to the fields. The hamlet is quiet, desolate. Every winding path, enchanting, without a soul passing by:
'The bamboo-lined path curves, guests are scarce.'

The tranquil landscape carries a hint of solitary sadness, faint and poignant. The angler seems immersed in an autumnal dream. Every detail, from the surface of the 'chilly autumn pond' to the 'slender and delicate fishing boat,' from the 'azure waves' to the 'yellow leaves,' from the 'floating layers of clouds' to the 'bamboo-lined path,' appears with lines, colors, sounds... occasionally tinged with nostalgia but intimately familiar to every Vietnamese. How endearing is the natural scenery of the homeland in autumn!
The essence of the poem 'Autumn Fishing' lies in its concluding two lines:

'Leaning on a pillow, embracing the rod forlorn,
No fish stirs beneath the swaying reeds.'