Top 10 Essays Reflecting on the Poem 'Visiting Mother' (Đinh Nam Khương) - 6 Best 'Kite Wings' Literature Books

Maternal love has always been a familiar theme in poetry. One of the works addressing this theme is the poem 'Visiting Mother' by Đinh Nam Khương. The poem expresses the thoughts and emotions of a child when visiting their mother. Familiar images evoke memories of the past, allowing the child to better understand the hardships endured by the mother:

'Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon,

The kitchen is without smoke, mother is not home,

I, the child, wander in and out,

The sky is calm, suddenly rain pours.'

In the poem, the child returns to visit their mother after a long absence. It's a cold winter evening, and it's raining, yet the mother is not home. The mother's presence is associated with the image of the 'kitchen fire,' symbolizing the resilience of Vietnamese women. And as the child looks at familiar objects in the house, memories of the mother come flooding back:

'The pot of fermented bean paste is covered,

The old straw hat, once worn, now sits in the rain,

The worn-out shirt from tilling the fields,

Now used to scare away pests from the crops,

The broken winnowing basket,

Used to confine the newly hatched yellow chicks,

Unexpectedly, a fruit drops from the branch,

The last fruit of the season, mother saves it for her child.'

The mother's love is associated with ordinary objects. These are familiar and comforting to the protagonist, reflecting the mother's toil, sacrifices, and devotion to her child.

Alone on the deserted porch, the child ponders, feeling nostalgic as they see the familiar objects their mother often used, eagerly awaiting her return. The final two lines directly express the child's emotions:

'Choked with emotion, I love mother even more,

Tears well up from the mundane daily routines.'

It's the emotion upon realizing the mother's hardships and sacrifices. What makes the child 'choked with emotion, loving mother even more' are the mundane daily routines – the house built by the mother's hands, her sacrifices for her child.

Thus, the poem 'Visiting Mother' effectively portrays the profound love of a child for their mother. Though concise, the poem encapsulates deep human values.

The most sacred emotion in life is perhaps maternal love. Writing about this theme, the poem “Visiting Mother” by Đinh Nam Khương has left a deep impression on readers.

The poem is the expression of a child's thoughts and emotions when visiting mother. The sincere character returns to the countryside to visit the mother on a cold winter afternoon, with rain falling. This makes the longing for the mother even more intense and painful:

“Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon

The kitchen's not yet lit, mother's not home

I, as a child, wander in and out

The sky's calm, then suddenly rain pours down”

The image of the kitchen fire is familiar in poetry. In the poem “Kitchen Fire” by Bằng Việt:

“In the morning and evening, grandmother lights the kitchen fire again,

A single flame, grandmother's heart always prepared,

A single flame holding steadfast belief”

The author remembers the mother upon seeing the image of the “kitchen fire,” reflecting the modesty of Vietnamese women. Not only that, but the simple objects in the small house also remind the sincere character of the mother:

“Mother's set the fermented soybean paste

The old straw hat, once standing, now sits, braving the rain

The worn-out shirt from days in the fields

Now just draped over straw casually

The chicks newly hatched, yellow and vibrant

Moving in and out around a damaged basket

Suddenly dropping from the branch

The last season's custard apple mother saved for her child”

These simple objects, yet they show the sacrifice and love that the mother gives to her child.

And so, the child's heart keeps “wandering in and out,” longing for the mother's return. The last two lines directly express the child's feelings:

“Choked with love for mother more

Tears from simple everyday stories”

Indeed, it is profound maternal love. The child feels choked up, pitying the hardships of the mother. The poem “Visiting Mother” has helped readers see the love of a child for their mother.

Writing about maternal love, numerous works have gained significant acclaim. Poet Đinh Nam Khương also contributes to this theme with the poem “Visiting Mother.”

First and foremost, the poem is the expression of a child's emotional state when visiting their mother. It's a cold winter afternoon, with rain falling. The first thing the child sees upon returning home is the image of kitchen smoke. This image is closely associated with women, showing the modesty of mothers and grandmothers. This image was also seen in the poem “Kitchen Fire” by Bằng Việt:

“A kitchen fire flickers in the early morning mist,

A kitchen fire warms with deep affection,

How much I love you, grandmother, through sun and rain!”

Next, the author vividly depicts a series of familiar images that evoke memories of the past, allowing the child to better understand the mother's hardships:

“Mother's set the fermented soybean paste

The old straw hat, once standing, now sits, braving the rain

The worn-out shirt from days in the fields

Now just draped over straw casually

The chicks newly hatched, yellow and vibrant

Moving in and out around a damaged basket

Suddenly dropping from the branch

The last season's custard apple mother saved for her child”

Everything in the house bears the mark of mother's care and nurture. From the simplest objects like straw hats, raincoats, or fermented soybean paste, to the chicks, and custard apples, they all demonstrate the mother's toil and sacrifice. These familiar and intimate objects in the poem illustrate the mother's hard work, dedication, and sacrifice for her child. The mother always wants to leave the best things for her child.

In the final two lines, the author directly expresses the affection for their beloved mother:

“Choked with love for mother more

Tears from simple everyday stories”

Understanding the mother's hardships, the child feels choked with love, pity, and immense emotion. With simple yet profound verses, the poem “Visiting Mother” truly highlights the preciousness of maternal love.

Writing about beloved mothers, poet Đinh Nam Khương chooses the traditional hexameter verse with very familiar imagery. The simple, sincere, and profound expression is very suitable for describing the peasant mother.

The consecutive lines of poetry are as natural as the intimate and affectionate relationship between mother and child.

'Returning to mother on a winter afternoon

The kitchen smoke hasn't risen, mother's not at home.'

Starting from here, the familiar connection between mother and everyday objects in the family has been established. Mother is synonymous with warmth and fragrance in her home. The kitchen smoke not rising signals mother's absence. Remembering the lamplight smoke spreading warmth in the evening also means the child remembers their beloved mother. In the chilly winter scene, the longing for the mother intensifies. Mother's not at home. Although sad, it's also an opportunity for the author to observe more carefully the objects associated with the simple, hardworking, fragrant life of the mother. The objects mother often uses are very simple, just like mother herself, contributing to life to the fullest. That is the sacrifice of the mother that no matter how much we talk about, it never runs out. For example: the hat once used to shelter from the sun and dew with mother is now worn and torn (becoming a rain hat) still sits in the rain on the fermented soybean paste (a daily dish made by mother). Similarly, the worn-out shirt from days plowing the fields, plowing the soil with mother, although now worn out, still remains tattered, draped over straw (for scaring away birds and pests). The broken and cracked basket also becomes the warm and cozy “home” for mother's chickens. The image of 'newly hatched chicks, golden yellow' (feathers colored like silk) moving in and out around a damaged basket is truly adorable. For mother, it seems that every object is closely connected, carrying deep affection and loyalty. This is also the character of Vietnamese mothers.

The boundless love of the mother for her child is condensed and emphasized in the image: suddenly dropping from the branch / the last season's custard apple mother saved for her child. A custard apple from the last season, ripe on the branch, that mother still saves for her child who's gone far away. Mother longs for the day her child returns to taste the flavor of the fruit she herself planted and cared for. Not many words, just a representative image like this is enough to deeply feel the mother's love for her child. Using clever metaphorical techniques, choosing familiar images suitable for the described subject, and the gentle, emotional poetic voice are the strengths of the poem.

The image of the Vietnamese rural mother, diligent, hardworking, gentle, and fragrant, is vividly portrayed in the work “Visiting Mother” by Đinh Nam Khương. Not only the author but we also share the sentiment: Choked with love for mother more, tears from simple everyday stories...

One of the remarkable works when writing about motherly love is “Visiting Mother” by poet Đinh Nam Khương. When reading the poem, readers have profound feelings.

In the circumstances of being away from the homeland for a long time, now being able to return to visit his mother. The first thing the child sees when returning home is the image of kitchen smoke. This image has shown the simplicity of the mother:

“I return to visit my mother on a winter afternoon

The kitchen is not yet filled with smoke, mother is not at home

I, as a child, wander in and out

The sky is calm, suddenly it rains”

Following that emotion, the author continues to show readers the sincere affection of the character towards the mother:

“The jars of fermented bean paste have been covered by mother

The old bamboo conical hat, once stood, now sits enduring the rain

The worn-out clothes through plowing and hoeing days

Now remain raggedly hanging on the straw figure

The newly hatched chicks are golden

They roam around a broken and worn-out basket

Unexpectedly falling on the branch

The last harvest of custard apple mother reserved for her child”

A series of familiar images are evoked. Things are truly simple, intimate. But what they contain is all the sacrifice, love that the mother gives to her child.

Finally, the child directly reveals the feelings for his mother:

“Choked with tears, loving mother more

Tears shed from simple everyday matters”

Reading up to this verse, readers understand the love that the child has for the mother. It's not too grand, it only comes from extremely simple, tiny things.

Thus, the poem “Visiting Mother” has brought readers truly authentic, close feelings about sacred motherly love.

Motherly love - a common theme in poetry. There are many poems written about this sentiment, one of which is “Visiting Mother” by Đinh Nam Khương.

The poem is the emotions of a child on a winter visit to their mother:

“I return to visit my mother on a winter afternoon

The kitchen is not yet filled with smoke, mother is not at home

I, as a child, wander in and out

The sky is calm, suddenly it rains”

After many years of separation, the child returns to visit their mother. The familiar images make the child feel nostalgic and poignant:

“The jars of fermented bean paste have been covered by mother

The old bamboo conical hat, once stood, now sits enduring the rain

The worn-out clothes through plowing and hoeing days

Now remain raggedly hanging on the straw figure

The newly hatched chicks are golden

They roam around a broken and worn-out basket

Unexpectedly falling on the branch

The last harvest of custard apple mother reserved for her child”

Though simple, these objects convey the heartfelt love of the mother. We can find these objects in any countryside.

The final two lines show the poet's affection for his mother. The image of the child sitting on the empty porch, lost in thought, reflects the anticipation upon seeing the familiar objects his mother still uses, waiting for her return:

“Choked with tears, loving mother more

Tears shed from simple everyday matters”

The overwhelming emotion expressed reveals a deeply affectionate heart of the child. What makes the child “Choked with tears, loving mother more” are the simple everyday things - the house built by mother's hands alone, the sacrifices mother made for her child.

The poem “Visiting Mother” deeply moves readers with its profound depiction of motherly love.

The poem “Visiting Mother” by Đinh Nam Khương reflects the emotions of a child when visiting their mother. The work brings readers to feel the essence of maternal love.

On a winter afternoon, the child returns to visit their mother after many days apart. The kitchen is not filled with smoke, and now, mother is not at home. Sitting alone outside the house, suddenly the sky pours rain, adding to the surrounding nostalgia:

“I return to visit my mother on a winter afternoon

The kitchen is not yet filled with smoke, mother is not at home

I, as a child, wander in and out

The sky is calm, suddenly it rains”

Inside the house, every object carries the shadow of the mother:

“The jars of fermented bean paste have been covered by mother

The old bamboo conical hat, once stood, now sits enduring the rain

The worn-out clothes through plowing and hoeing days

Now remain raggedly hanging on the straw figure

The newly hatched chicks are golden

They roam around a broken and worn-out basket

Unexpectedly falling on the branch

The last harvest of custard apple mother reserved for her child”

The jars have been carefully covered by the mother. The hat, the clothes that mother often wears when working. Even the newly hatched chicks, the custard apple on the branch, are all cared for diligently by mother.

Reading the last two lines, we can feel the child's affection for the mother. The child cherishes a lifetime of hardship, toil, and sacrifice from the mother:

“Choked with tears, loving mother more

Tears shed from simple everyday matters”

What makes the child “Choked with tears, loving mother more” are the simple everyday things - the house built by mother's hands alone, the sacrifices mother made for her child. A sincere feeling stemming from simple things.

With “Visiting Mother,” Đinh Nam Khương helps readers feel sincere, heartfelt emotions. This is one of the works that beautifully captures the essence of a mother.

'Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon,

The kitchen chimney remains unlit, mother is not home,

I, the child, absentmindedly come and go,

The tranquil sky suddenly bursts into rain.

The pickle jar, mother has already sealed,

The old hat, once worn, now sits in the rain,

The worn-out clothes, through plowing and hoeing,

Now tattered, casually draped over the straw figure.

The newly hatched chicks and the ripe golden fruit,

Revolve around a broken nest

Unexpectedly fallen from a branch,

The late-season custard apple, mother sets aside for her child.'

The poem 'Returning to Visit Mother' depicts the emotions of a child returning to visit their mother after many days of separation. Through simple yet profound expressions, combined with the traditional lục bát poetic form, the successive lines flow naturally, reflecting the intimate bond between mother and child.

The opening lines: 'Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon / The kitchen chimney remains unlit, mother is not home,' resemble a recounting, yet the reader seems to feel the warmth of the mother-child bond. The presence of the mother fills the home with warmth. The image of the mother is intertwined with the smoky fragrance of the kitchen, as if narrating the journey of life, the toil and tenderness of the mother.

When the mother is absent, sitting in front of the porch, gazing at the beloved scenery of the home, the child sees familiar objects that remind them of the mother. Like the hat once sheltered from the sun and dew with mother, now old and torn (becoming a rain hat) still sits in the rain on the jar of pickles (a common dish made by the mother). Or like the worn-out clothes that once plowed and hoed in the dry and flooded fields with mother, although now worn and tattered, still casually worn over the straw figure, the broken, rimless nest, the mother's chicks, the late-season custard apple on the branch - all evoke memories of the mother, of the modest, devoted figure of the mother early and late.

For the mother, it seems that every object is intimately connected, carrying deep, enduring affection, steadfast loyalty. This is also the characteristic of Vietnamese mothers. The boundless love of the mother for the child is condensed, intensified in the image: 'The late-season custard apple, mother sets aside for her child.' A late-season custard apple ripening on the branch that the mother still reserves for her distant child. The mother eagerly awaits the day when the child returns to taste the flavor of the guava, planted and cared for by her own hands.

With few words, just one iconic image is enough to deeply convey the mother's love for the child. The skillful use of metaphor, the selection of familiar, appropriate images in line with the intended audience, the gentle, affectionate tone of the poem are its strengths.

The image of the Vietnamese rural mother - diligent, hardworking, gentle, fragrant, tirelessly toiling from dawn till dusk but full of love for her child - is vividly portrayed in Định Nam Khương's poem 'Returning to Visit Mother.' Not only the author but also all of us share the same sentiment:

'Choked with emotion, love for mother grows,

Tears well up from the simple, everyday stories.'

The poem 'Visiting Mother' by Đinh Nam Khương has left a profound impression on every reader.

'Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon,
The kitchen chimney remains unlit, mother is not home,
I, the child, absentmindedly come and go,
The tranquil sky suddenly bursts into rain.'

In the opening lines, the child expresses the emotional state upon visiting their mother on a cold winter evening, accompanied by rain. The weather conditions intensify the sense of longing. Upon returning home, the first image the child sees is the kitchen chimney. This imagery associated with the woman illustrates the simplicity of mothers and grandmothers. We have encountered this imagery in the poem 'Kitchen Fire.' The image of the 'kitchen fire' reminds the grandchildren of the emotional memories of their grandmother. It also expresses the respectful love and gratitude of the grandchildren towards her or even towards the homeland, the country:

'A kitchen fire flickering in the early mist,
A kitchen fire embracing warm affection,
Grandchild loves grandmother, countless suns and rains!'

The poet has recreated very familiar images that can be found in every old village:

The pickle jar, mother has already sealed,
The old hat, once worn, now sits in the rain,
The worn-out clothes, through plowing and hoeing,
Now tattered, casually draped over the straw figure,
The newly hatched chicks and the ripe golden fruit,
Revolve around a broken nest
Unexpectedly fallen from a branch,
The late-season custard apple, mother sets aside for her child.'

We can see that everything in the house bears the mark of the mother's hands: the straw hat, raincoat, or pickle jar, the chicken coop, the custard apple. The mother always wants to leave the best things for her child.

When reading the last two lines, the reader will feel the love of the child for the mother:

'Choked with emotion, love for mother grows,
Tears well up from the simple, everyday stories.'

The more one understands the hardships of the mother, the more choked with emotion the child becomes. Looking at the scene, the child feels moved to tears.

With a profound poetic tone, the poem 'Visiting Mother' has successfully portrayed the truly precious mother-child relationship. From there, each reader loves and appreciates their mothers even more.

The poem 'Visiting Mother' captures the emotions of a distant child returning to visit their mother on a winter evening. The timeframe in the poem evokes various emotions, as traditionally, poetry about winter evenings tends to be melancholic, evoking longing, reunions, and gatherings. Đinh Nam Khương follows this tradition.

Visiting mother on a winter evening, finding her not at home, provides the sensitive character with an opportunity to observe, contemplate about the mother's life. Simultaneously, a sudden rain intensifies the poet's emotions: mother's absence, the unlit kitchen chimney, the unexpected rain, along with familiar, simple images associated with mother's life. Like the old straw hat worn in all weathers, now worn by the mother while covering the pickle jar in the garden, the old raincoat now unusable but still used to cover the scarecrow (to ward off pests from the crops), the broken sieve used to confine the newly hatched chicks.

Through these images, readers can sense a poor rural mother's diligence, simplicity, and thriftiness. Some of these images may no longer be familiar to students of this 21st century, especially in urban areas, but through the teacher's explanation, students will undoubtedly understand:

'Returning to visit mother on a winter afternoon,
The kitchen chimney remains unlit, mother is not home,
I, the child, absentmindedly come and go,
The tranquil sky suddenly bursts into rain,
The pickle jar, mother has already sealed,
The old hat, once worn, now sits in the rain,
The worn-out clothes, through plowing and hoeing,
Now tattered, casually draped over the straw figure.'

The most striking image in the poem is the late-season custard apple unexpectedly falling from the branch, a custard apple the mother saved for her distant child, waiting for the child to enjoy the sweetness of homegrown fruit, which further moves the sensitive character to love the mother more through the simple things in her life. Perhaps for sixth-grade students, with limited life experiences, there may not be much empathy with the author, but these simple and rustic images will surely help students appreciate the mother's profound affection.

''Unexpectedly fallen from a branch,
The late-season custard apple, mother sets aside for her child,
Choked with emotion, love for mother grows,
Tears well up from the simple, everyday stories.'

The poem about mother, with its intimate, simple sentiments, radiates the mother's hardships, sacrifices, as well as the child's affection for her. We believe that with this new material, students will have more beautiful poems in their repertoire about motherly love. The poem carries the traditional folk ethos with a modern touch, making it a profoundly humanistic piece of literature.