Reflections on the Poem 'Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum'

Prompt: Express your reflections on the poem 'Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum' by Viễn Phương.

Sample essay expressing my reflections on the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum'

I. Outline of Reflections on the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum'

1. Introduction

 Poems and songs are born out of deep emotions, especially those that express profound feelings of longing and sorrow for the great figure who evokes intense emotions. One such standout is the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum' by Viễn Phương.

2. Body of the Essay

a. Stanza 1:
- The intimate address 'uncle' - son: intimate affection, like flesh and blood
- The image of green bamboo symbolizes the resilience, bravery of the nation, embodying many noble and beautiful qualities of the Vietnamese people

b. Stanza 2:
- The sun represents the beauty of nature, and also Uncle Ho - the beauty of the nation
- People coming to pay homage, forming a wreath of seventy-nine springs offered to Him

c. Stanza 3:
- Endless love and longing for Uncle when entering the mausoleum, overwhelming emotions
- Pain, sorrow when accepting that Uncle has departed forever

d. Final Stanza
- Regret of being far from Him
- Small dreams shared with Him, beside Him through the years - The aspirations of the entire nation

3. Conclusion

  Reading the poem, I deeply appreciate Uncle's dedication, and cherish His personality.

II. Sample essay: My Reflections on the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum'

1. Reflections on the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum,' Sample 1 (Standard):

Ho Chi Minh is a great leader, the beloved old father of the Vietnamese nation. His departure left infinite sorrow for the entire people. Seven years later, in September 1969, poet Viễn Phương still deeply remembered Him and composed the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum.' The poem reflects the author's deep love, compassion, and profound gratitude, both individually and collectively for the entire Vietnamese people towards their national leader.

'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum' is a representative work of Viễn Phương's poetic style. The poem was published in the collection 'Like Spring Clouds' in 1976, leaving an impression with its sincere emotions and genuine respect and gratitude from the poet, the people of the South, and the entire nation for Uncle Ho.

At the beginning of the poem, readers can feel the poet's emotion and pride as he visits Uncle Ho's mausoleum seven years after His passing:

From the South, a visit to Uncle Ho's mausoleum
In the mist, bamboo rows stretch endlessly
Oh! Green bamboo of Vietnam
Standing tall amidst storms and rain.

The first verse echoes like a greeting, introducing the emotional journey of children from the South to the capital to visit Uncle Ho. Viễn Phương addresses 'son - Uncle' evoking a sense of intimacy, a bond akin to flesh and blood. The poet is like a distant child, returning after a long time to visit the beloved old father. The verb 'visit' is used as a euphemism for Uncle's departure, suppressing the emotions of loss and grief still lingering within the nation.

The image of 'endless rows of bamboo' shrouded in the early morning mist on the way to visit Uncle Ho represents the real depiction of the beloved, simple homeland. It's also a symbol of the resilient, indomitable Vietnamese people, enduring 'storms and rain' countless hardships to unify the country according to His testament, then returning to bow respectfully before His spirit. These vivid, evocative images blend together to create a unique, captivating imaginative landscape. Uncle Ho's mausoleum emerges under the poet's pen like a tranquil village.

The best Reflections on the poem 'Paying Homage to Uncle Ho's Mausoleum'

The author walks slowly into the mausoleum, overflowing with deep reverence, gratitude, and profound admiration:

Every day the sun passes over the mausoleum
A Sun inside the mausoleum is very red
Every day people walk in remembrance
Forming a wreath offered seventy-nine springs.

Here, the poet continues to create incredibly unique poetic images. The image of the 'Sun passing over the mausoleum' describes the sun of nature, the universe, shining every day, bringing life to all things. In Uncle Ho's mausoleum - where He rests peacefully, there is another 'sun' that is 'very red.' This 'sun inside the mausoleum' is a beautiful metaphor for Beloved Uncle Ho, expressing profound gratitude to the revered leader, shining like the sun illuminating the path, sheltering the entire nation.

The phrase 'every day' affirms the immutable law of time of nature and humans, depicting the reality of an endless stream of people, silently, solemnly each day entering the mausoleum to express their feelings for the beloved old father. They represent the Vietnamese people from the North, Central, and South, from the 54 ethnic groups across the country. They form the metaphorical image of a 'wreath,' symbolizing the quintessence, the most beautiful of the country and the Vietnamese people reverently offered to Uncle Ho.

Furthermore, the author creatively employs the metaphor 'seventy-nine springs' to depict Bác's seventy-nine years of life as seventy-nine beautiful, meaningful springs. Those 79 springs sacrificed to bring our nation a spring of independence, freedom, and eternal happiness.

Standing before Bác's resting place, the poet's heart surges with overwhelming emotions that cannot be restrained, touching the hearts of millions:

Bác lies in peaceful sleep
Under a gentle, bright moon
Knowing the sky is forever blue
Yet there's a pang deep in the heart.

Viễn Phương continues to use euphemisms, avoiding directness with 'peaceful sleep' as if trying to lessen the painful truth of Bác's departure. The poet vividly portrays a scene full of emotion: Bác lying in the mausoleum, His beloved face appearing rosy and gentle like the moon under dim, reddish lights. The imagery of the 'blue sky' and 'moonlight' represents the eternal existence of nature and also symbolizes the people's feelings towards Bác. Combined with the phrase 'yet there's,' it expresses overwhelming emotions. Knowing He will forever live in the nation's heart, yet the truth of His permanent departure still 'pierces the heart.'

The art of metaphor transforms the feeling of 'piercing heart' accentuating the poet's profound sorrow facing the reality of Bác's absence. Then thinking of returning tomorrow, away from Bác, the author's emotions, like those of the children from the South, erupt into cries:

Tomorrow returning to the South, tears flowing
Wishing to be a singing bird around Bác's mausoleum
Wishing to be a spreading flower's fragrance
Wishing to be a loyal bamboo here...

Tears of regret, longing for Bác until this moment cannot be contained. The poetry resounds with overwhelming emotion. The sincere desire to be near Bác is fervently expressed through a series of verbs 'wishing to be.' Viễn Phương wants to be a bird to offer songs to Bác's mausoleum, to be a bamboo, solemn and respectful like a soldier guarding His peaceful sleep. These are metaphors representing the essence of nature's beauty, expressing the poet's heartfelt aspirations and those of the entire nation: Wanting to stay close, guarding His peaceful sleep.

Especially, the poem concludes with the image of the 'loyal bamboo,' creating a corresponding beginning and ending structure, affirming the boundless loyalty, unwavering devotion to the Party, to Bác Hồ of the people from the South, of the entire nation.

Over the flow of time, the poem still touches the reader's heart with its remarkable content and artistry. It's crafted in the innovative eight-word form, cleverly combining the personal and the sentimental. The language is simple, rustic, imbued with the essence of the Southern region, while using vivid imagery that evokes many associations. Particularly successful use of understatement, avoidance, allusion, metaphor, and euphemism... Expressing the painful emotions, nostalgia, sincere gratitude, and reverence for Beloved Uncle Hồ. The poem easily stirs emotions in the reader's heart, a condensed offering of reverence to Him.

With the poem 'Visiting Bác's Mausoleum,' Viễn Phương has made a significant contribution to poetry on Bác. Despite the passing years, the poem remains an emotionally charged work conveying the eternal values that the poet and the entire nation hold for Bác.

2. Student's Reflection on the poem 'Visiting Bác's Mausoleum,' Standard Sample 2:

Bác Hồ - the hero, a great son of the nation. His entire life dedicated to the people, to the country... His departure left endless sorrow among the people. His departure is the nation's greatest loss, the pain of millions of Vietnamese hearts. Poems and songs expressing longing and sorrow for Him evoke profound emotions. Perhaps the most prominent is the poem 'Visiting Bác's Mausoleum' by Viễn Phương. The poet expresses respect, gratitude, and heartfelt sorrow through each line.

The poem opens with the poet's announcement:

'I, from the South, come to visit Bác's mausoleum.'

Viễn Phương affectionately referred to himself as 'I,' establishing a close and heartfelt connection. The poet used the word 'visit' to alleviate sadness, yet the sorrow of life's separation remains evident. It takes immense love and respect to establish such an intimate address. Through this, we see the intimacy and affection Bác held for the people, akin to flesh and blood.

'Oh, the rows of green bamboo in Vietnam
Stand firm through storms and rains.'

The green of bamboo symbolizes the familiar image of rural Vietnam, resilient and courageous amidst rocky soil. The depiction of 'storms and rains standing in line' illustrates the resilience, courage, and nobility of the Vietnamese people in the face of adversity. Around Bác's mausoleum, the green bamboo stands plentiful like the children of Vietnam, protecting and guarding Him. Whether in life or in death, the Vietnamese people always stand by Him.

In the second stanza, the poet expresses their emotions witnessing the procession to the mausoleum:

'Every day, the sun passes over the mausoleum
Sees a red sun inside the mausoleum
Every day, people walk in remembrance
Creating a wreath of flowers, seventy-nine springs offered....'

The essay 'My Reflections on the Poem Visiting Bác's Mausoleum' provides a detailed outline.

In the first two lines, there are two images of the sun. The first sun is the real sun of nature.

The second sun is an image symbolizing Uncle Ho. The sun is very red, symbolizing His brilliant and eternal life. He illuminated the path, guided the nation to independence and freedom. Through the imagery of the sun in both lines, the author wants to convey: 'Uncle Ho is the most beautiful sun and always lives in the hearts of the Vietnamese people'. Is the revolutionary path of His like the beautiful, radiant sun bringing life to the nation? At the same time, it expresses the poet's sincere respect and appreciation for Him, of the people with His nobility. Every day, there are always lines of people visiting Uncle Ho's mausoleum. The image of people visiting Uncle Ho's mausoleum is likened to a bouquet of flowers offered to Him, offering Him love, gratitude, and the most beautiful, fresh things. 'Seventy-nine springs' is a beautiful metaphor, He lived 79 springs dedicating and sacrificing Himself for the people, for the country. A truly beautiful and meaningful life, a life for all lives.

Upon entering Uncle Ho's mausoleum, the author's emotions reach a climax:

'Uncle Ho lies in peaceful sleep
Amidst a gentle, bright moon
Still knowing the sky is forever blue
But why does it ache deep in the heart?'

The author's use of understatement helped alleviate the pain and loss of the entire nation, 'Gentle light' reflects His noble and pure soul, His compassionate heart. In the heart of every Vietnamese person, Uncle Ho will forever be the 'blue sky', the source of life, the eternal belief. Although knowing He will always live in every person's heart, the loss and pain of His departure are still deeply felt. The line 'But why does it ache deep in the heart?' reveals the profound, painful emotions of the author and the nation as a whole.

While in the first three stanzas, the author tried to suppress the emotions deep in the heart, in the final stanza, as the time to part with Him approaches, the heart becomes heavier, emotions suddenly overflow:

'Tomorrow returning to the South, tears overflow'

Being away from Uncle Ho, how can one not feel sadness, not feel regret? Just having arrived with Him but for some reason, having to part ways, the feeling is indescribably poignant. The author also expresses their desire, their longing:

'Wishing to be a bird singing around Uncle Ho's mausoleum
Wishing to be a flower spreading fragrance everywhere
Wishing to be a bamboo, loyal and filial here.'

The phrase 'wishing to be' is mentioned three times, revealing the urgency, the intense desire of the poet. Simply wishing to be a small bird singing around Uncle Ho every day, wanting to be a flower to spread sweet fragrance, to adorn this place. And the author's final wish:

'Wishing to be a bamboo, loyal and filial here'

Each person is like a bamboo, loyal and filial to Uncle Ho, then the rows of bamboo are the entire nation, loyal and filial to Him. Wishing to be faithful and filial to Him throughout life. Always learning and following His revolutionary ideals. This wish is not only Viễn Phương's own but also the wish of the people in the South, the wish of the entire nation.

Reading the poem, I deeply appreciate Bác's contributions, cherish His personality. And I understand that a successful literary work doesn't arise from glittering illusions but from the simplest things. Above all, a successful work must stem from sincerity, from the earnest heart of the artist. 'Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum' deserves that success.

2. Impression of the poem Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, sample 2:

Uncle Ho - the great leader of the Vietnamese people, who dedicated His entire life to the nation. Not a second passed without Him thinking about the people, about their warmth and happiness... His departure left endless sorrow, deep love from the entire nation. And how many poems, writings about Him, among them perhaps 'Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum' by poet Viễn Phương stands out. Reading each line, we feel a surge of emotion, simple yet sincere verses, beautifully expressing the sentiments of the poet and of the South for the beloved father of the nation.

After the country's reunification, North and South gathered as one, our homeland united, independent. In 1976, Viễn Phương had the fortune to visit Uncle Ho's mausoleum, feeling immensely proud and joyful:

'I, from the South, visit Uncle Ho's mausoleum'

The poet emotionally utters the word 'I' full of earnestness and overflowing love. It's the love, utmost respect, the heart of a child sent to the beloved father, reflecting the closeness of the people to Uncle Ho like flesh and blood. One morning amidst the capital's sky, coming to Him, everyone carries immense emotions, everyone hopes to stand for a long time in front of the President's mausoleum to feel.

'Oh! Green rows of Vietnamese bamboo
Stand straight amid storms and rain'

Those are the familiar green bamboo standing proudly, resilient against storms and rain just like the people of Vietnam, strong, resilient, straightforward, and steadfast. Despite bombs, storms, sunburns, and challenges, they remain diligent, compassionate, and hardworking. Amidst the challenges, they stand tall, raising their heads high towards the glory of freedom, independence. Encountering such simple things, the author offers unwavering pride in the Vietnamese people. The green bamboo symbolizes the people always by Uncle Ho's side, accompanying Him even when He's far away, providing shade and comfort to where He rests.

It seems that everything here is excessively beautiful and sacred:

'Every day the sun passes over the mausoleum
Seeing a sun inside the mausoleum so red.
Every day people walk in remembrance
Forming a bouquet of seventy-nine springs'...

Latest reflections on the poem Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum

Two radiant suns display immense beauty. The natural sun is dazzling, shining, bringing endless miraculous light, giving life to all creatures. The 'sun inside the mausoleum' is a metaphor for the nation's sun - Beloved Uncle Ho. He remains immortal with the land, with the people, with the brilliant revolutionary cause and the glory of those who illuminated the nation's path to unity today. It is also the sun of love, the compassionate heart that Uncle Ho devoted to the people. Perhaps that's why everyone carries feelings of love and reverence for Him. The solemn moments when people come to visit Him, offering the freshest flowers, the most sincere and heartfelt emotions, crystallize and send to Him. People everywhere come to visit, like beautiful flowers nurtured under His radiant sun. Those seventy-nine springs are the seventy-nine beautiful springs of life, lived fully, dedicated, sacrificed for the land, the nation.

'Uncle Ho lies in peaceful slumber
Amidst a gentle, bright moonbeam
Knowing the sky is forever blue
Yet why does it ache deep in the heart!'...

Uncle Ho peacefully rests in a thousand-autumn sleep, serene, calm amidst the gentle moonlight. The space is profoundly peaceful and tranquil. The moonbeam is like His soul, vast and profoundly beautiful. Although we know that Uncle Ho, like the blue sky, always exists within everyone's heart. Yet the truth still makes our hearts ache with the pain of His loss, 'Yet why does it ache deep in the heart!'

Following the flow of emotions, the verses overflow with profound sentiments, leaving us choked up:

'Tomorrow returning to the South, tears overflow
Wishing to be a bird singing around the mausoleum
Wishing to be a flower spreading fragrance here
Wishing to be a bamboo, loyal and filial'