Buzz
Prompt: Please present the distinctive features of Viếng lăng Bác poem by Viễn Phương.
The Unique Aspects of Viếng lăng Bác Poem
Essay:
There are numerous writers and poets who express their deep reverence and profound gratitude towards Uncle Ho, such as Tố Hữu with the poem O Uncle Ho!, written immediately after Uncle Ho's passing, Trần Đăng Khoa with the poem Bac's Image, or Minh Huệ with Tonight, Bac Doesn't Sleep, along with many other works. Each work reflects the individual emotions and sentiments of the authors towards the beloved patriarch of the nation. In particular, Viễn Phương has left Vietnamese readers with a profoundly emotional and poignant poem when standing before His mausoleum. This is the poem Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, composed in 1976, during the poet's inaugural visit to the mausoleum.
Viễn Phương's poetry often carries a multitude of emotions, with simple yet romantic verses. The same is true for Visiting Uncle Ho's Mausoleum, one of its most remarkable features being the author's emotions, portraying the profound sentiment of being close to Uncle Ho for the first time, only to find Him physically absent. It's a mix of emotions — from deep sentiment, grief, to profound gratitude towards the great President Hồ Chí Minh. Reading the opening line, one might feel as if the author is whispering a tale, 'I, from the South, come to visit Uncle Ho's mausoleum,' a line made intimate through the use of 'I-Uncle,' evoking a warm feeling, as if Uncle Ho is a cherished relative constantly revered by the author. This sense of familiar intimacy continues as the poet evokes a beautiful image seen first before the mausoleum, 'rows of green bamboo,' a symbol of Vietnamese villages, reminiscent of a heroic Vietnam, resilient like the sprawling bamboo roots deeply embedded in this beloved Vietnamese land. Despite the 'storms and floods' like foreign invaders or natural disasters, when has our people ever retreated in submission? Our Vietnamese people are like fresh green bamboo, standing tall in unity, making even the rain dissipate and the storms fade away. Indeed, the image of green bamboo in the opening stanza evokes a myriad of emotions, blending affection and nostalgic reminiscence.
In the second stanza, Viễn Phương continues to captivate with the imagery of 'twin waves,' a metaphor rich in depth and significance.
'Every day the sun passes over the mausoleum
Seeing a red sun inside the mausoleum'
The imagery of 'the sun passing over the mausoleum' is a perpetual natural law, whereas the metaphor of 'a red sun inside the mausoleum' by Viễn Phương is a reference to Uncle Ho, the great leader of the nation, peacefully resting for eternity. It implies that Uncle Ho is the sun of truth, both warm and radiant in the hearts of every Vietnamese citizen. His ideas and sacrifices have illuminated the path for our nation to emerge from the dark pain and lament of imperialism. Furthermore, this metaphor also demonstrates the stature and power of President Hồ Chí Minh's ideology, which is universal and irreplaceable, akin to the sun created by nature.
Continuing with the metaphors and allegories in the line:
'Day after day the people walk in remembrance
Offering garlands of seventy-nine springs...'
Reading this line, it seems the stream of people is endless, forever unbroken, combined with the phrase 'walking in remembrance,' which immediately brings to mind the seemingly endless thread of affection of the Vietnamese people, eternally grateful and compassionate towards their beloved father figure. The imagery of 'Offering garlands of seventy-nine springs' is a beautiful and romantic metaphor, representing the unity and heartfelt reverence of the Vietnamese people offering tribute to Uncle Ho, not just for a moment in His life, but for all 79 springs - 79 years of His life, where Uncle Ho dedicated himself entirely to the nation. It's a lofty and noble sacrifice, unparalleled by anyone else.
Reading the poem, we notice an interesting aspect: Viễn Phương seems to often associate with images of permanence and eternity, things that can never be eradicated. First, it's the green bamboo of Vietnam, then the sun, and now the moon and the blue sky.
'Uncle lies in peaceful sleep
Underneath a gentle bright moonbeam
Knowing the sky is forever blue
Yet why does it ache within the heart'
Standing before Uncle's resting place, amidst the sacred and tranquil atmosphere, the poet imagines Uncle as if peacefully asleep, under a softly glowing moon. Oh, what a romantic and serene image! Here, Viễn Phương must have struggled to suppress the sorrow when facing Uncle's remains, using truly elegant imagery, evoking a beautiful and pure soul of Uncle. However, despite the attempt to downplay it, the emotion still lingers in the hearts of Southern children. Viễn Phương continues to use allegory; here, the 'blue sky' represents Uncle, who lives on forever in the hearts of the Vietnamese people, but it's only the memories that Uncle left behind. Uncle has truly departed, leaving a deep-seated pain in the hearts, like a persistent ache that never fades. This further demonstrates the unwavering love, gratitude, and loyalty that our people always have for Uncle.
'Tomorrow back to the South, tears of longing
Want to be a bird singing around Uncle's mausoleum
Want to be a flower spreading fragrance here and there
Want to be a bamboo standing loyal in this place...'
