1. Reference Example 4
Nguyen Khoa Diem has written many beautiful poems, and 'Spring Nursery Rhyme' is one of them. This poem presents the soldier's image in a vivid and realistic way. Leaving their homeland to join the battlefield, the soldier at that time was still 'yet to love, still drinking coffee, and fond of flying kites.' They were young, carefree, and inexperienced. However, once they entered the war zone and faced bombs and gunfire, they fought courageously without fear. Their hearts carried the passion for the revolutionary ideal. Eventually, when peace was restored, those soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice and could never return home. The author immortalized the image of the soldier, who became the spring of the people and the spring of the nation, living on through time. Reading this poem, we feel deep admiration and respect for the soldiers who fought for the country.

2. Reference Example 5
The image of the Vietnamese soldier has been an endless source of inspiration for literary, musical, and artistic creations. Nguyen Khoa Diem also naturally and emotionally incorporates this image into his poem 'Spring Nursery Rhyme.' These soldiers are innocent, playful, yet never have experienced love and are still fond of flying kites. Yet, they sacrificed their youth, blood, and lives for the nation. They remained forever on the battlefield so that the country could remain whole, and the people could be independent. In Nguyen Khoa Diem's perception, even though their bodies rest forever in the distant Truong Son mountains, their spirits live on. For it is they who have created the eternal spring of today's nation.

3. Reference Example 6
The topic of soldiers has been widely explored by writers and poets during the resistance period. Poet Nguyen Khoa Diem added his voice to this theme with the poem 'Spring Nursery Rhyme.' In the poem, the soldiers are depicted simply, humbly, and genuinely—'never having loved, never drinking coffee, still fond of flying kites'—yet they are also portrayed as heroic and steadfast, 'becoming a flame.' In hardship and struggle, the comradeship and solidarity among the soldiers grow even stronger, and their love for each other is evident: 'friends carry on.' Despite the horrors of the battlefield, the soldiers remain optimistic and cheerful: 'gentle smiles.' Through this, readers can feel the deep emotions of the poet and the people towards the generations of soldiers who sacrificed to protect the nation. These soldiers will live forever in the hearts of the Vietnamese people and the land of their homeland.

4. Reference Example 7
'Spring Nursery Rhyme' is a poem about soldiers seen from the reflective perspective of someone in peacetime. These soldiers, innocent and mischievous, never having loved, and still enjoying flying kites, gave up their youth and their lives for the nation. In Nguyen Khoa Diem's view, though their bodies rest in the distant Truong Son mountains, their spirits endure. For it is they who have created the eternal spring of the nation today. The poem reflects the deep affection soldiers had for their comrades, as shown in the verses 'He became a flame / Friends carry on.' This symbolizes the mutual support, bond, and affection soldiers shared during the chaos of war. It represents the solidarity when fighting side by side, the regret and longing that remains when one falls, yet they continue to watch over their comrades. These are the noble feelings of the soldiers of Uncle Ho in battle.

5. Reference Example 8
The soldier in this poem represents a deeply beautiful and sacred figure. Through the use of a four-character verse form, along with well-paced line breaks and rhythms, Nguyen Khoa Diem portrays a soldier emerging from the intense years of war with great authenticity. Initially, the young soldier ventures deep into the forest to march on, never to return. He sacrifices his life, leaving parts of himself in the mountains of Truong Son: a small frog backpack, a green shirt, a gentle smile, and fevered skin. His silhouette quietly sits beneath a golden apricot tree. While the seasons of nature come and go, the soldiers' spring remains in the mountains – the very place where they sacrificed for the nation's independence.

6. Reference Example 9
The soldier in Nguyen Khoa Diem's poem *Spring Lullaby* is depicted as a vivid sketch, as though viewing a cross-section of a tree and seeing the entire life of the plant. These soldiers remain forever at the age of 'spring' because they entered the battlefield during their youth and stayed there forever. The soldiers are still so young: 'Never loved / Never drank coffee / Still fond of flying kites.' They gave their youth, their very lives, to the nation, becoming a flame that their comrades always carry: 'You became a flame / Carried by friends.' The sacrifices of these soldiers turned them into immortals, forever living in their 'spring' years. Comrades, the people, and the country will always remember and be grateful for the eternal 'spring' soldiers, as portrayed in Nguyen Khoa Diem's *Spring Lullaby*.

7. Reference Example 10
Poet Nguyen Khoa Diem has captured the image of soldiers who are both romantic and rugged in his poem *Spring Lullaby*. These soldiers carry the great responsibility of defending the nation. They had to sacrifice themselves, missing out on the precious years of youth, to immerse themselves in the smoke and fire of war. The image of the soldier with 'malaria skin' is unforgettable, symbolizing the deprivation and the impact of war on them. Despite the hardships, the soldier maintains an optimistic belief, a gentle smile, and the noble ideals they fight for. These qualities evoke great admiration and pride in me, as they remind me of the resilience, determination, and unbreakable spirit of our nation in building a stronger future.

8. Reference Example 11
Reading *Spring Lullaby* by Nguyen Khoa Diem, I feel a deep sense of admiration and affection for the soldiers. The poet has beautifully depicted the image of the Ho Chi Minh soldiers in a very real and heartfelt way. When they first entered the battlefield, they were still young, full of innocence, never having fallen in love, never having tasted coffee, and still fond of flying kites. Yet, they were driven by noble ideals, revolutionary passion, and a willingness to give their youth to the country. In the harsh years of war, they fought and sacrificed, leaving only their bodies on the battlefield, their only belongings being a small frog-shaped backpack. Their images are forever etched in our minds with pale, gaunt faces, but with the kindest smiles. To the poet, though they have perished, their youthful spring lives on forever, for they became the eternal spring of the nation.

9. Reference Example 1
Nguyen Khoa Diem's *Spring Lullaby* is a poem about soldiers who sacrificed their lives on the battlefields of the Truong Son Mountains during the 'Years of Blood and Fire.' The work expresses a deep sense of sorrow, reverence, and gratitude towards those who gave their youth to protect the country. Many verses convey the pain of loss: 'He will never return,' 'He is still alone,' 'He sits quietly,' reflecting the departure of the young soldiers: 'Never loved... Still fond of flying kites.' The image of the soldier—humble, familiar with his green uniform, small frog-shaped backpack, malaria skin, and, most notably, his 'gentle smile'—only deepens the sense of loss. Yet, the poem does not leave one with sadness. Through the poet's vivid portrayal, the image of the fallen soldier remains alive: 'He becomes a flame/ Carried by his comrades.' His spirit transforms into the vivid colors of spring, the deep green of the mountains, a symbol of the eternal spring that lives on, not fading but thriving in the generations that follow. The poem is not only a tribute to the silent, noble sacrifice of soldiers but also affirms the sacred continuity of generations that build the eternal nation. The joyful rhythm of the four-character verse, the use of comparisons, metaphors, and other poetic devices, brings the freshness of a lullaby. The reader is reminded of the carefree voices of children playing in the fields, living in peace and protected by those brave soldiers. Bright colors—green mountains, the soldier's green uniform, yellow apricot flowers, flowing streams—combine with the immortal spirit of spring, childhood, and the resilient soldiers who sacrificed all in the face of fire and bombs. The poem is a powerful affirmation of the sacred, everlasting connection between generations and the country they have built.

10. Reference Example 2
Many poems capture the image of soldiers during the resistance, but the one that stands out most to me is *Spring Lullaby* by Nguyen Khoa Diem. As one of the prominent poets of the anti-American generation, Nguyen Khoa Diem contributed to modern Vietnamese poetry with immortal poetic masterpieces. His poems are profound and contemplative, blending lyrical beauty with political commentary. Alongside his monumental epic *The Road of Desire*, other shorter poems by Nguyen Khoa Diem, including *Spring Lullaby* written in 1994, have been warmly received. This poem reflects on the soldier through the perspective of someone living in peacetime. The soldiers are portrayed as youthful and carefree, never having loved, still enjoying simple pleasures like flying kites, yet they sacrificed their youth and lives for the country. These brave souls fell and colored the flag of the nation. They remain in the mountains and return to the loving embrace of the homeland. Through the simple four-character verse form, the gentle tone of the poem, and the use of familiar, everyday images, Nguyen Khoa Diem paints a poignant picture of these beloved soldiers. In his view, even though their bodies rest forever in the distant mountains of Truong Son, their soldier spirit endures through time. They created the eternal spring of the nation. Reading this poem, I feel deeply moved and proud of the soldiers of Truong Son. They built the nation. These verses have planted seeds of admiration and contemplation in my soul, inspiring me to live in a way that honors the sacrifices of those who fell for us.

11. Reference Example 3
In *Spring Lullaby*, Nguyen Khoa Diem offers readers a deeper understanding of the image of the Hồ soldier. When they first entered the battlefield, they were just young men, innocent and unexperienced—having never known love, still brewing their first coffee, and enjoying the simple joy of flying kites. Yet, beneath this youthful innocence was a heart full of revolutionary ideals and fiery enthusiasm. They dedicated their entire youth to the nation, putting aside their studies to face the brutal battlefield. During the war years, they fought without fear of sacrifice, leaving only their bodies behind on the battlefield. The remnants of their lives are memories—only the small, humble knapsack remains, or perhaps the image of their pale, fever-stricken skin, yet their gentle smiles endure. They lived and fought side by side with their comrades, sharing each breath until the very last. Both their comrades and the people cherish and take immense pride in them. This beautiful image of the soldier is forever etched in the minds of all who read their story.

