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Prompt: Reflect on the poem excerpt from Lullaby for Babies Riding on Mother's Back: 'Em Cu Tai... lying on the back'
'Em Cu Tai sleeps upon her mother's back,
Sleep well, don't stray from mother's back.
While mother harvests corn on Ka-lui hill,
The mountain's back is vast, but mother's is small,
Sleep well, dear child, don't tire mother at all.
The sun for the cornfield sets upon the hill,
The sun for mother, upon her back, lies still.'
I. Outline
II. Sample Essay
Reflection on the verse in Lullaby for Babies Riding on Mother's Back
Sample Essay: Reflection on the verse 'Em Cu Tai... lying on the back' in Lullaby for Babies Riding on Mother's Back
Poems depicting women always carry an extraordinary charm. Particularly, those that depict mothers during wartime are even more beautiful, worthy of immense respect. 'Lullaby for Babies Riding on Mother's Back' is one such poem. Nguyen Khoa Điềm, with genuine feelings and heartfelt dedication, creatively crafted a ballad saturated with a mother's love for her dear child. This is vividly expressed through tender lullabies:
'Em Cu Tai sleeps on mother's back,
Sleep well, don't stray from mother's back.
While mother harvests corn on Ka-lui hill,
The mountain's back is vast, but mother's is small,
Sleep well, dear child, don't tire mother at all.
The sun for the cornfield sets upon the hill,
The sun for mother, upon her back, lies still.'
Like all other mothers, a mother's loving heart pours out completely for her child. The Tà-ôi mother, despite loving her child, even when they are still small, still has to carry them to the fields for work due to her job and life responsibilities. Despite the hardships of her work, harvesting corn amidst the mountains with the scorching sun, she doesn't hesitate, always by her child's side, always whispering sweet lullabies for their peaceful sleep. She hopes the child behaves, not to tire her so she can focus on her work. Mother and child accompany each other, whether in the dark of night, in the fields, or on the battlefield. Mother and child work together:
'While mother harvests corn on Ka-lui hill,
The mountain's back is vast, but mother's is small'
Mother's work isn't just for her own family, but also for the hungry village, for the distant frontlines, increasing production for the urgent resistance effort. Mother's heart is truly noble and magnanimous. Mother's hunched back bears the weight of countless responsibilities for the village, for the country, through many hardships and toils.
'The mountain's back is vast while the mother's is small'
The contrasting image between the mountain's back and the mother's emphasizes the smallness of the mother and child amidst the vast mountains, further highlighting the immense sacrifices of the Tà-ôi mother. Despite the vast expanse of the mountain, it cannot compare to the modesty on the mother's frail back; nature itself seems to admire the mother's expansive heart.
'The sun for the cornfield sets upon the hill,
The sun for mother, upon her back, lies still.'
Through metaphorical imagery, the author portrays the profound love of the mother for her child. If the sun for the cornfield is the sun of nature, of the universe bestowed upon humanity. That sun shines, providing light and life for all creatures and species. Then for the mother, the sun is you, the marvelous gift sleeping peacefully on her back. You are the warm sun, warming her heart, giving her strength to continue striving, fighting, and working. You are her faith in a life full of hardships, the bright future she hopes for and awaits in you. For you, even in weariness or adversity, she remains steadfast; the sun for the cornfield and the sun for the mother, the sun of the revolution, are all sources of love and light entrusted to the heart of the Tà-ôi mother. It's an intense maternal love, a deep love for the village, and a fervent love for the motherland of the mountainous mother.
