Reflections on the Poem 'Yearning to Return'

Prompt: Reflections on the poem 'Yearning to Return' by author Nguyen Trung Ngan

Reflections on the Poem 'Yearning to Return'

I. Outline Reflections on the Poem 'Yearning to Return'

1. Introduction
- Homeland serves as the inspiration for many poets, including Nguyen Trung Ngan.
- The poem 'Yearning to Return' was written while he was on a diplomatic mission in China.

2. Body
- Significance of the poem:
+ The poem is born out of a deep longing for homeland and the author's desire to return home.
+ It is crafted with the most authentic and simple imagery, bearing the colors of Vietnamese countryside.

>> See the outlineReflections on the Poem 'Yearning to Return'in detail here.
 

II. Sample Essay Reflections on the Poem 'Yearning to Return'

'What is homeland, mother?
That the teacher teaches us to love'

Nguyen Trung Quan once questioned, what is homeland that everyone must remember, love, and yearn to return to wherever they go? Homeland - those simple, rustic words contain countless meanings. Many writers and poets always find abundant inspiration whenever they mention their homeland, and Nguyen Trung Ngan is no exception. During a diplomatic mission to China, he composed the work 'Yearning to Return' - a poetic expression of deep longing for homeland and the fervent desire to return home quickly.

'Old strawberry plants shed their leaves, silkworms mature
Early rice blossoms, fat crabs are abundant
They say being poor at home is still good
Happiness abroad can't compare to returning'.

Nguyen Trung Ngan composed the poem 'Yearning to Return' while on a diplomatic mission in Jiangnan, China. The life of a diplomat may be complete and comfortable, yet no matter how much prosperity and glory there may be in the land of one's birth, it cannot compare to the simplest, most rustic aspects of homeland. Therefore, the poet used the most familiar images of Vietnamese villages to depict his longing for home.

At the beginning of the poem, Nguyen Trung Ngan shows us how profound his longing for his homeland is. This longing comes from the most seemingly simple, humble things:

'Old strawberry plants shed their leaves, silkworms mature
Early rice blossoms, fat crabs are abundant'.

The opening lines are filled with familiar imagery of our countryside: strawberry bushes, silkworms, rice in bloom, a herd of plump crabs. These images are deeply ingrained in the minds of children growing up on water buffalo's backs, amidst vast rice fields. These images are the recollections of Nguyen Trung Ngan about his homeland, a yearning for the simplest, most familiar objects of his childhood.

'As I depart, I miss my homeland
Missing the morning glory soup, missing the pickled eggplant'.

Each familiar dish, each beloved scene, alone evokes countless memories for one far from home. Such longing is rich and profound! Here, Nguyen Trung Ngan does not employ any symbolic, idealized imagery of classical poetry; he merely incorporates the simplest, most familiar images into his poetry to evoke his longing for homeland. This contributes significantly to affirming the trend of simplicity in medieval poetry, breaking the formal norms inherent in classical poetry. If one has read ancient poems, they may notice that classical literature places great emphasis on the solemnity of poetry, using numerous idealized images to enhance the elegance and subtlety of the verses. As in Nguyen Du's 'The Tale of Kieu', we encounter such idealized images as:

'Flowers smile like precious pearls
Clouds concede to water, snow conceding to skin color'

However, Nguyen Trung Ngan broke this norm to creatively evoke a simple, humble yet profound longing for his homeland.

Towards the last two lines, readers delve even deeper into his longing for his homeland:

'They say being poor at home is still good
Happiness abroad can't compare to returning'.

Being a diplomat may entail hardships, but it also brings numerous benefits, luxuries, and the opportunity to enjoy many scenic spots and cuisines of other countries. However, this does not make Nguyen Trung Ngan happier. The images of fragrant rice fields, delicious fat crabs, silkworms munching on leaves, keep lingering in his mind. Though his homeland may be poor, not extravagant, its beauty, simplicity, and warmth are incomparable.

In addition to the essay Reflecting on Nguyễn Trung Ngạn's poem Returning Home, for effective learning, students should not overlook other related study materials such as: Mind Map of Returning Home, Analysis of the poem Returning Home, Preparing for Returning Home (Rhyme scheme)