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Prompt: Reflect on a poem or literary work you love
Essay:
Sample 1: Reflections on the Poem Moonlit Yearning
President Ho Chi Minh, the illustrious leader and beloved Father of the Vietnamese nation, continues to reside in the hearts of every Vietnamese, even after nearly 50 years since his departure. Ho Chi Minh, besides being an outstanding political and military figure, was also an artist with a romantic, optimistic, life-loving soul, deeply passionate about nature and harboring a profound love for the people and the country. Bác's literary works, driven by circumstances, are not bound by them. In the challenging days at Pac Bo, he wrote the 'Pac Bo Scene' with a genuinely innocent, simple, and slightly humorous poetic tone. Even during the darkest days of imprisonment under the Tưởng army, where despair seemed inevitable, Bác remained different. He penned the collection 'Prison Diary' with a poetry that was optimistic, life-loving, and sprinkled with a touch of humor. Perhaps, the most impressive piece in this collection is the poem 'Moonlit Yearning,' written during those days of harsh confinement.
Phonetic Transcription
'In prison, no wine, no flowers in sight,
Facing trials, is there any complaint or plight?
Humanity turns towards the moon in the sky,
Moon and poet share a gaze, spirits fly high.'
Translation of Poetry:
'In prison, neither wine nor flowers bloom,
The beauty of this night is hard to assume.
One gazes at the moon outside the window so near,
The moon peeks through the door, admiring the poet here.'
The first verse paints a picture of the poet's situation—confined, surrounded by concrete walls, tight and grimy. In front, there's a window for ventilation, but with high iron bars, seemingly only reachable by two hands. Despite the deprivation, the poet's enjoyment, usually found in fragrant flowers and strong wine, is nowhere to be found. However, the author's soul, enamored by beauty, remains untouched by the difficult and constrained environment. The poet's spirit transcends the dark and cramped prison to revel in the beauty of the earthly scene, the cherished beauty of a poet. Bác still gazes at the moon with a soul so innocent and optimistic, as if he were free and not in the throes of imprisonment.
How can a beautiful scene make the poet 'hesitate'? It turns out to be a gentle, radiant moon, casting a soft, pale golden glow, looking truly pure and tranquil. The poet lifts their gaze, letting the soul that loves beauty and nature fervently pass through the iron bars to witness the beauty of that moon. The moon comes to Bác naturally, unexpectedly, sometimes making Bác feel awkward. In the past, the pleasure of moon-gazing was leisurely enjoyed by elegant poets, but now, Bác encounters a beautiful moon while separated in prison, unable to harmonize with the moon, something Bác has always considered a kindred spirit. Nevertheless, it seems that all barriers cannot tightly bind Bác's romantic and soaring soul. Bác still gazes at the moon passionately, enjoying the moonlight reflecting on the profound sky. The moon responds to Bác's love and appreciation, permeating through the iron bars to resonate with the poet's sentiments.
Some humorously compare Bác's spiritual escape to a prison break, aligning with his saying, 'The body is in prison, but the soul is outside.' However, don't misconstrue this as if Bác trivializes or remains oblivious to the harshness, biting cold, and hardships within those prison walls. Before being a poet, Bác is a human with flesh and blood who knows suffering and pain. Yet, with a steely spirit and an optimistic, life-loving heart, during the days of imprisonment, he suddenly encounters a beautiful moon, momentarily forgetting the surrounding hardships. Allowing his soul to soar, embracing romance, temporarily shedding the prisoner's identity to become a poet companioning the moon. This demonstrates a noble, simple soul in Bác, wholeheartedly appreciating the beauty of nature and creation. In him, there's a profound harmony between two elevated personalities: firstly, the revolutionary soldier sacrificing for the freedom of the nation, and secondly, a poet with a noble soul, deeply in love with the beauty of nature, fueled by a burning desire for freedom.
Bác's poetic voice is both simple and innocent, occasionally carrying a hint of humor, yet beneath it lies an optimistic, life-loving spirit full of determination that has overcome all challenges to reach lofty ideals. It reflects unwavering loyalty to the revolution and the nation, a deep and genuine love for nature, characteristic of a great revolutionary soldier and a talented, romantic, and profound artist.
Sample 2: Reflections on the Poem Tranquil Mind (Thoughts on a Quiet Night)
Lí Bạch - a poet often hailed as a celestial poet. His poetry emanates an incredibly free and open spirit. The imagery of the moon appears rich and varied in Lí Bạch's verses. One of his famous poems on this theme is 'Tranquil Mind,' also known as 'Thoughts on a Quiet Night.' The poem delicately expresses the love for the homeland by someone living far away on a beautiful, serene moonlit night.
The connection between the moon and nostalgia for one's homeland is a recurring theme in poetry. In the poem 'Tranquil Mind,' Lí Bạch, too, finds himself reminiscing about his native land when he sees the moon:
“Moonlight shines at the bedside,
Mistaking the ground for dew.”
A beautiful yet emotionally tinted scene unfolds. The moonlight at the bedside seems to seek a soulmate in affinity and antiquity. The poet, unable to sleep, discovers the moonlight casting its glow at the bedside. In a dreamy state, he 'mistakes' the ground for being covered in dew. The bewildering emotion makes him feel as if the moonlight is misty like dew, inundating the ground. The moon outside the window becomes the object for the poet to gaze at, enjoy, and share his sentiments.
The following two lines not only depict the emotions but also unfold the scenery:
“Lifting my head, I gaze at the bright moon,
Bowing my head, memories of the homeland flood in.”
From the beauty of nature, the focus shifts towards the sentiment of 'nostalgia for the homeland.' Lifting the head to gaze at the bright moon is a natural action for a poet in the presence of such a beautiful moonlit night. The visionary eyes of the poet shift from within to outside, from the ground to the vast, expansive sky. Previously, the poet only saw the moonlight shining at the bedside; now, he contemplates the entire bright moon. As he admires this radiant moon, seemingly lonely, the poet immediately 'bows his head.' This bowing gesture is for reflecting on the homeland, for the poet to recall his old village, as the full moon always symbolizes family reunion. The poet's mood suddenly becomes heavy, melancholic, filled with the longing for the homeland. We witness a profound, sincere emotion from the author towards his homeland.
Lí Bạch's poem is not only filled with moonlight but also overflows with the deep love for the homeland. Reading the poem, those far from their homeland surely surge with a poignant homesickness, an emotion difficult to describe. Truly, the poem 'Tranquil Mind' can be considered a remarkable work by Lí Bạch, expressing a deep love for the homeland. The poet showed great finesse in using the natural scenery of a moonlit night to reveal his heartfelt longing for his homeland. His emotion deserves immense respect!
After exploring the thoughts on a poem or literary work you admire, you might consider further references to complete your first essay: Thoughts on the first steps into high school, Reflections on nature and human life during seasonal transitions (into autumn, winter, or spring, ...), Reflections on loved ones,..., Reflections on a memorable story that you've learned and cannot forget (e.g., The Girl of Nam Xuong, The Ivory Comb, Xi-mong's Father,...).
