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Assignment: Expressing thoughts on the passage describing Lượm's sacrificial battle scene.
Expressing thoughts on the passage describing Lượm's sacrificial battle scene.
Response:
Tố Hữu penned Lượm in 1947, published in the collection Việt Bắc. The poem narrates the tale of a young comrade with a spirit of courageous struggle, innocently embracing life, who sacrificed on duty in Huế during the resistance against the French. The poem evoked in me various emotions of sorrow and admiration for a young boy like Lượm, small in age but bold and heroic.
The petite, cheerful, and innocent young comrade, akin to a caged fledgling carrying within it dreams and aspirations of youth. Yet in a moment, lying amidst the lush rice fields, Tố Hữu brings forth astonishment, sorrow, and choked emotions when hearing of Lượm's sacrifice on duty:
“One day
Like any other day
The little comrade
Puts letters in envelopes
Speeds past the frontlines
Bullets whistling by
The letter reads: “Urgent”
No fear of danger?
The empty village road
Rice fields ripe
The little boy’s song
Skipping in the fields...
Suddenly, a red flash
It's over, dear Lượm
The little comrade
A stream of fresh blood!
Lying in the rice
Fingers clutching a flower
Rice fragrant with milk
The soul drifting in the fields...
Lượm, are you still there?”
As per usual, the boy puts letters in envelopes, crosses the frontline, facing numerous dangers. Enemy bullets whiz by, yet the young hero remains fearless, bravely confronting the challenges ahead. The deserted countryside is blanketed in the golden hue of rice, illuminated by the radiant sunlight shining upon Lượm's figure, swiftly traversing the lush fields. Despite his tender age, Lượm is already a soldier, carrying within him love for his homeland, his nation's fervor, all for the urgent call to duty, disregarding even the fear of perilous circumstances. Through the simple, rustic verses of poet Tố Hữu, I deeply admire and feel proud of the brave spirit of the young messenger, yet also deeply concerned for his safety amidst the imminent dangers of the battlefield's smoke and fire from bombs.
The innocent, joyful rhythm of the poem abruptly halts with ellipses, as the boy is suddenly struck by a bullet, a sudden burst of red. The bullet pierces through Lượm, leaving me shocked and hoping it's not true. The boy is too young, with his future ahead, yet now he meets his end on the battlefield, a life cut short, a poignant sorrow. The young soldier now lies amidst the vacant fields, his heroic blood flowing, fingers clutching vibrant golden rice. He sacrifices within the embrace of his homeland, surrounded by nature's embrace, the fragrant rice fields, all welcoming the returning hero to his motherland. Heart-wrenching! Lượm has departed, feelings of grief and sorrow grip my heart, yet I know he hasn't left his homeland, his spirit still 'drifts in the fields,' lingering in the fleeting life. The boy lies amidst the fields as if sinking into an autumn slumber, lips curling into an innocent, naive smile of youth. Tố Hữu writes these verses empathetically with the reader, sharing in the immense sorrow and regret for the unjust, tragic demise of the hero Lượm. Though young, Lượm carries within him a fervent love for his country, a resilient fighting spirit, ready to sacrifice for the nation's peace and independence.
The poignant question 'Lượm, are you still there?' is separated into a distinct stanza, prompting me to ponder the existence of the boy: Is he still here or forever gone? And poet Tố Hữu skillfully answers with the concluding verses:
“The boy skips
A small figure
A bit weary
A nodding head
Tilted hat
Whistling mouth
Like a finch
Hopping on the golden road.”
The verses affirm that Lượm remains eternally present in the hearts of every Vietnamese citizen, living on with the homeland. Though the poem concludes, its resonance lingers within me, the image of an innocent yet courageous messenger boy. Lượm persists in the reader's heart as an enduring monument to youth ready to fight and sacrifice for the homeland.
Tố Hữu's poem Lượm has left a profound impression on me. The figure of Lượm symbolizes the generation of Vietnamese youth during the resistance era, a beacon inspiring future generations in the struggle for national peace and prosperity.
Explore the beauty of the character Lượm, alongside the discussion of the poem depicting Lượm's sacrificial battle scene here. Students can also refer to: Composing about Lượm, Retelling the story of Lượm through the narrative of Uncle Hanoi, Analyzing Tố Hữu's poem Lượm, Analyzing the portrait of young messenger Lượm in the verse 'The day Huế shed blood... The child gradually departs...'.
