The beauty depicted in the poem 'Haste and Passion' reflects life's vibrant canvas, a testament to Xuân Diệu's exquisite portrayal of nature's allure. How do you perceive the beauty of life's canvas in this poem and the poet's intense love for life and nature?

Prompt: The beauty depicted in 'Haste and Passion'

Exploring the beauty of life's canvas in the poem 'Haste and Passion'

I. Outline: The beauty depicted in the poem 'Haste and Passion'

- While Xuân Diệu's poetry draws inspiration from French literature, it never feels detached; instead, it exudes an alluring charm, a refined essence that is distinctly Vietnamese, captivating us.

- 'Haste and Passion' epitomizes a poetic style, especially evident when Xuân Diệu contemplates life's canvas in the opening verses, one feels an intoxicating fervor, an enthusiasm, even in the simplest of things like grass and trees, pulsating with abundant hidden vitality.

2. Body

a. The first four lines 'I want...to fly away':

- Desiring to extinguish the sun, to harness the wind to preserve the freshest beauty of spring, to retain the essence of spring with its gentle sunlight, the fragrance of the breeze, embracing to fully indulge in the longing heart's desires.
- A fusion of two contrasting selves, harmoniously combined, one self whimsical, innocent with dreams of fantasy, the other self audacious, powerful desiring to dominate nature, the heavens and the earth... (Continued)

>> See detailed outline of the beauty depicted in the poem 'Haste and Passion' here

II. Sample Composition: The beauty depicted in the poem 'Haste and Passion'

Renowned literary critic Hoài Thanh in the book 'Vietnamese Literary Figures' once used intriguing words to describe Xuân Diệu, an enigmatic poet among Vietnamese literary circles from 1932 to 1941: 'It's hard to express the astonishment of the Vietnamese poetry community when Xuân Diệu arrived. He came to us with a modern attire, and we hesitated to embrace a figure from afar.' Referring to Xuân Diệu as 'modern' speaks to his unique poetic style, borrowing heavily from French poetry, yet never feeling alien or distant, but rather exuding an elegance and charm that is distinctly Vietnamese, captivating us. 'Haste and Passion' is a quintessential example of this poetic style, particularly when Xuân Diệu contemplates life's canvas in the opening verses, one feels an intoxicating fervor, an enthusiasm, even in the simplest of things like grass and trees, pulsating with abundant hidden vitality.

Xuân Diệu's poetic soul, whether joyful or sorrowful, always resonates with fervor, passion, and intensity. It seems that Xuân Diệu is only sad because he desires, he craves this beautiful life too much, lamenting beforehand, regretting beforehand for fear that the most beautiful moments in life will fade like fireworks. Therefore, Xuân Diệu always writes with a tone of haste and passion, ablaze with incredibly subtle emotions.

'I want to turn off the sun
So the colors don't fade away
I want to restrain the wind
So the fragrance doesn't fly away'

Some say Xuân Diệu is too arrogant, while others liken his poetry to the words of an innocent and carefree child. Few understand that beneath those verses lies a Xuân Diệu complex and full of emotions. Sun, wind, seen every day, encountered every day, and hardly anyone studies, scrutinizes the wonderful things around them, except for a few meteorologists! But Xuân Diệu is different, he is not a scholar, he stands under the guise of a person who enjoys, the sun that Xuân Diệu wants to turn off is the warm and beautiful sunlight, symbolizing both the spring of nature, and beyond that, the spring of life. He also wants to 'restrain the wind' because all the essence, the fragrance of spring flowers and grass, all the wonderful colors of the spring sky are held in the hands of the wind, will the wind blowing once have any concessions to give Xuân Diệu that bit of happiness? Xuân Diệu is very selfish, he wants to turn off the sun, wants to restrain the wind to preserve the freshest beauty of spring, wants to retain the essence of spring with its gentle sunlight, the fragrance of the breeze, embracing to fully indulge in the longing heart's desires. It can be said that with just 4 opening lines of 'Haste and Passion,' in a rapid, short, and intense poetic tone, Xuân Diệu seems to have almost completely revealed his passionate, intense soul, his love for life and spring fervently. There is a harmonious combination of two contrasting selves, one whimsical, innocent with dreams of fantasy, the other audacious, powerful desiring to dominate nature, the heavens and the earth.

After those hurried wishes, fervently so, Xuân Diệu slowly begins to unfold the canvas of life within the young poet's soul, a canvas that includes nature, and love.

'Of this butterfly's honey here
Here, the flower of the green countryside
Here, the leaves of the fluttering branches
Of this swallow's love, here the melodious tune
And here, the flashing light of the eyelashes
Every morning, the Joyful God knocks on the door
January is delicious like a pair of lips nearby'

Rushing Love is a renowned romantic poem by Xuân Diệu, depicting the fervent love for life and the desire to fully embrace all the beauty and scents of the earthly world. Let's delve into the poem, alongside the Beauty of Life's Painting in Rushing Love. Additionally, students can explore other excellent essays for 11th grade such as: Analyzing Xuân Diệu's notion of living 'rushing love', Sensations from Rushing Love by Xuân Diệu, Analyzing Rushing Love by Xuân Diệu. The intoxicating longing for a passionate life is vividly portrayed in Rushing Love.