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The Prompt: Analyzing Fragrant Cypress Stroll
Exemplary Analysis of the Poem Fragrant Cypress Stroll
Hoai Vu, the poet, hails from Quang Ngai. During the resistance against America, he actively participated in literary activities in the South. His works often caught the attention of many musicians, with the most prominent being the poem 'Walking in the Fragrance of Cork Trees'. With its remarkable content and artistic form, the poem left a profound impression on readers.
True to its title, permeating throughout 'Walking in the Fragrance of Cork Trees' is the image of fragrant cork flowers. Each time the sentimental character mentions 'cork fragrance,' the figure of 'her' appears. It can be said that cork fragrance is deeply associated with 'her,' becoming the main symbol of the work.
Reading the poem, one can see it resembles a continuous monologue that never ends. This monologue arises from the heartfelt longing of the sentimental character, who refers to himself as 'you.' Deep memories, profound sorrows intertwined with the image of cork flowers are evoked. First, we encounter the scene:
'What do you send in the wind, in the clouds
To rise this morning over Vam Co Tay
Cork flowers nestled in the canopy of leaves
But all over the sky, fragrance wafts away!'
The author perceives objects through the senses. From images of nature, the narrator skillfully conveys their personal thoughts to their beloved. It starts with the 'wind', 'clouds', then 'cork flowers' and 'canopy of leaves'. After the layers of fresh green leaves, the cork flowers are shyly blooming, timidly displaying their beauty. The flowers carry within them a pure, pristine beauty. The more the narrator observes the surroundings, the more they feel stirred. It seems that the deep secrets within the heart have merged with the scene 'But all over the sky, fragrance wafts away!'. Now, the entire space, time, and objects are soaked in human longing. These emotions continue to be depicted through:
'No matter where, no matter how far apart
No matter if the wind and clouds change their hue
Even if your heart doesn't belong to me anymore
A hint of cork fragrance keeps us together for a moment'
The repetition of 'no matter' at the beginning of the three main lines is an affirmation, a declaration of loyalty in love from the narrator. Despite all changes, even if 'you' cannot give your heart to 'me' anymore, one thing is certain, our feelings will endure. Once again, the image of 'cork flowers' appears alongside the figure of 'you'. Perhaps, cork fragrance is the lingering sweetness of an unfinished love? Perhaps, that love is enveloped by 'a hint of cork fragrance'?
Standing alone in the vast world, the sentimental character can't help but feel lonely and despondent:
'The wind of Thap Muoi has blown, blown deep
There is pain, there is hope
With different rhythmic breaks 5/3, 4/3, the poetic tone slow, the first two lines seem to emphasize the pain in the human heart. That pain is like a deep blowing wind, swirling deep into the 'you''s mood. It turns our love into a poignant feeling but at the same time, creates strength to support and encourage people to live worthy of that affection.
The vast, expansive nature continues to be depicted by the author through the lines:
'The sky is high, the fields are wide
Cork fragrance beside me, where do you go'
'The sky', 'the fields' are eternal entities in the universe, representing vastness and expansiveness. Faced with these two spaces, the sentimental character can't help but feel lonely and lost. If in the past, there was the 'cork fragrance', there was 'you' by his side, now he is alone with the 'cork fragrance'. Like the sky and the fields, cork fragrance always exists, only 'you' do not. The gentle question 'Cork fragrance beside me, where do you go' is both a soliloquy that the sentimental character asks himself and an earnest question directed towards 'you'. After all, the haunting paradox still lingers - loss, the haunting of loneliness is deeply etched in the mind of the sentimental character.
Finally, rising above all, the narrator boldly expresses his own heart:
'No matter where and how far apart
I still have your shadow, amidst the fragrant cork trees
I still see your eyes on the green cork leaves
I still hear your love amidst the rustling cork fragrance.'
The line 'No matter where and how far apart' is reiterated for the second time, emphasizing the steadfast, unyielding affection of the sentimental character. Despite time and distance, 'he' always remembers 'you'. The phrase 'I still' placed at the beginning of the sentence is like a promise, a vow of love that he dedicates to you. Everything related to our pure love will endure forever. Now, the figure of 'you' has merged into the cork trees, cork leaves, and cork fragrance, turning into a species of evergreen trees, lush and flourishing over time. So, the love between 'him' and 'you' is immortal, nothing can divide them.
Through familiar, intimate poetic images; pure, rustic language, poet Hoai Vu has created a picture of nature with cork fragrance as the central image. Through this, he skillfully reveals the deep longing of the sentimental character. Additionally, the successful use of rhetorical devices 'even', 'I still' also contributes to expressing the emotions, feelings of the narrator.
With four concise verses, 'Walking in the Fragrance of Cork Trees' easily penetrates the minds of many readers. Reading the poem, one can feel the lingering essence of an unfinished love, of an incomplete relationship. Hopefully, the poignant verses in the work will always shine brightly along the flow of time.
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For this type of composition, you need to analyze and evaluate both the content and artistic form. To do this, read the work carefully and identify representative images, details. Mytour always updates exemplary Grade 10 essays to serve your learning needs, such as: Analysis of Plum Blossom Season or succinctly, the sample essay Paragraph about the beauty of love associated with the images of homeland, country in the poem or Analysis of the Caged Thrush... helping you understand how to develop ideas, making essay writing easier.
