Top 12 Essays Analyzing the Autumn Scene in 'Thu Điếu' by Nguyễn Khuyến (Grade 11)

'Thu Điếu' is part of Nguyễn Khuyến's famous autumn-themed poetry collection, which consists of three renowned Nôm poems. This poem presents a serene and quiet autumn in the rural village, capturing the poet’s solitude and longing for his homeland. Like 'Thu Ẩm' and 'Thu Vịnh,' 'Thu Điếu' was written after Nguyễn Khuyến had retired and returned to his village in 1884.

The opening lines, 'The autumn pond is cold, its water crystal clear - A small fishing boat drifting silently,' set the scene for a tranquil autumn landscape. The pond's clear water reveals algae at the bottom, exuding the chilly atmosphere of late autumn. The small boat symbolizes solitude, with the sounds of its quiet drifting echoing the stillness of the scene. This poetic image conveys a calm, peaceful autumn beauty.

The following lines, 'The water ripples gently with a soft breeze - A yellow leaf fluttering in the wind,' depict a harmonious two-dimensional space. The contrast of green waves and yellow autumn leaves brought to life by a gentle breeze enhances the autumn atmosphere. The skillful use of opposites draws attention to the visual and auditory beauty of the scene. Nguyễn Khuyến’s meticulous word choice captures the subtlety of the scene, with the word 'vèo' (swift) famously praised by poet Tản Đà. These images of fluttering leaves and gentle ripples enhance the portrayal of autumn’s beauty.

The poem expands the autumn landscape further with lines describing the sky and the village road: 'The floating clouds above the deep blue sky - The winding bamboo path deserted and silent.' The vast autumn sky, with its soft floating clouds, creates an expansive and serene atmosphere. The empty bamboo path, devoid of any human presence, intensifies the theme of solitude, further evoking a sense of quiet, reflective autumn.

In the final lines, a new element appears: 'Leaning on my fishing rod, waiting long without success - A fish splashes below the floating reeds.' The quiet presence of the fisherman contrasts with the earlier landscape, symbolizing a peaceful life and a gentle wait for something elusive. The subtle sound of a fish splashing below the reeds ties the poem back to its rural setting, while invoking a timeless image of a fisherman at ease, waiting for a catch in the autumn season.

Xuân Diệu famously praised the lush green of 'Thu Điếu,' with its harmonious interplay of colors—green pond, green waves, green sky, and the singular golden leaf. The poem’s tranquil yet melancholic beauty reflects a deep connection to the autumn season and the poet’s love for his homeland. Each autumn detail in the poem—whether visual or auditory—enhances the soulful atmosphere of the rural autumn, creating a masterpiece that perfectly combines natural beauty with human emotion.

The autumn season often evokes thoughts of gentle beauty and a quiet, lingering sadness, accompanied by a deep sense of longing. This is why autumn is a recurring theme in the poems of many artists, beautifully capturing both the scenery and emotions. Among Vietnam's classical literature, the autumn poems of the 'autumn king' - Nguyen Khuyen, stand out. In his poem 'Thu Điếu' (Autumn Fishing), the reader can feel the deep emotions of Nguyen, an unspoken inner world that overflows with poetic images. These emotions are beautifully reflected in the autumn scene of a fisherman, where nature and sentiment intertwine.

The autumn pond is cold, its waters crystal clear

A tiny fishing boat floats gently

The blue waves ripple slightly with a breath of wind

The yellow leaves flutter gently in the breeze

The sky is clear, and the clouds are floating high

The bamboo path curves, devoid of passing guests

Leaning on my knee, my fishing rod unmoving

And no fish stirs beneath the water’s surface.

With just a few strokes of the brush, Nguyen Khuyen’s autumn fishing scene is infused with deep emotions. The essence of 'autumn' here is the bond between the poet and nature, his tender feelings for the countryside of Northern Vietnam. As we read 'Thu Điếu,' we are immersed in an autumn landscape that feels both intimate and serene.

While Du Fu's 'Autumn Grief' depicts the harsh autumn of Central China, blending desolation with turmoil, Nguyen Khuyen's autumn in 'Thu Điếu' unfolds as an expansive, tranquil landscape. In this poem, 'autumn water' – the calm, clear pond, merges with 'autumn sky' – the limitless, blue heavens. Together with 'autumn leaves' and the 'fisherman,' we find the idealized image of autumn in the Northern Vietnamese countryside. The focal point is a small fishing boat, drifting in a small pond. From this little boat, the poet takes in the chilly, clear waters, the distant ripples in the waves, the gently swaying yellow leaves in the breeze, and the wide, endless blue sky above. The view moves toward the winding bamboo path, and ends with the subtle movement of fish beneath the water.

As Xuân Diệu once said, 'Thu Điếu (Autumn Fishing) is the most representative of the autumn in Vietnamese village life.' The autumn in Nguyen Khuyen’s poem is not only striking in its imagery, but also in its quiet, distinct sounds. The pond, described with the words 'cold' and 'crystal clear,' conveys a sense of stillness and purity. The absolute clarity of the water matches the stillness of the autumn air. The sky’s 'deep blue' color weaves throughout the poet's autumn poems, symbolizing the soul of Nguyen Khuyen’s autumn verse. The poet uses subtle images, like the rippling waves and the softly drifting leaves, to express the movement of the autumn wind, without directly describing it. The curve of the bamboo path and the absence of guests evoke a quiet, peaceful autumn moment. The poet’s final line, ‘the fish move under the water,’ subtly contrasts the stillness of the scene with a tiny, unexpected motion, showcasing the delicate beauty of the poem.

The autumn painting in Nguyen Khuyen’s poem is a harmonious blend of various shades of green: the green of the pond, the green of the waves, the green of the bamboo, the green of the sky. And amidst these greens, the yellow leaves add a soft contrast, evoking a sense of quiet decay that is a hallmark of autumn in the North. Nguyen Khuyen doesn’t explicitly describe the falling leaves; he simply evokes them with the phrase 'gently fluttering,' creating a delicate, poetic image. The entire scene, from the smallest movements to the largest, is imbued with a sense of quiet beauty. The poet’s subtle use of verbs like 'ripples,' 'hovers,' and 'fluttering' enhances the fragile, delicate nature of the scene. The pond is small, the boat is tiny, and the fishing is quiet and introspective. The scene is simple, yet harmonious, creating an unexpected beauty.

To breathe life into this peaceful scene, Nguyen Khuyen employs a masterful use of language. His words evoke not only imagery but also emotions. The use of adjectives like 'cold,' 'clear,' 'tiny,' and 'gentle' create a vivid and emotionally resonant landscape. The choice of the 'eo' rhyme, considered somewhat obsolete in classical poetry, successfully conveys the idea of a shrinking, narrowing space, perfectly capturing the intimate, quiet beauty of the scene. The painting is not grand or ornate, but it is full of subtle, captivating beauty.

As Nguyen Du once said, 'Every scene is filled with sorrow,' and so too does Nguyen Khuyen’s autumn painting carry a heavy heart. The poem seems to capture not just the quiet beauty of nature, but also the poet’s personal sorrow and loneliness, a reflection of the tumultuous times in which he lived. The title 'Autumn Fishing' is less about fishing and more about the poet’s attempt to immerse himself in the autumn scene, to find solace in nature. The stillness of the autumn scene mirrors the stillness in the poet’s heart, reflecting a deep sense of sadness and resignation. It is a quiet sadness, a longing for something beyond reach.

The two final lines of the poem capture the poet’s quiet meditation: 'Leaning on my knee, my fishing rod unmoving / And no fish stirs beneath the water.' The poet watches the autumn scene until the slightest movement of a fish makes him return to reality. This moment of realization blurs the lines between what is real and what is imagined, much like the poet’s sense of detachment from the world. The autumn scene, like the poet’s heart, remains elusive and distant.

Ultimately, 'Thu Điếu' is a testament to Nguyen Khuyen’s poetic genius, his ability to evoke not just an image, but a feeling. His poetry, more than a mere painting of nature, is a deeply emotional exploration of the human soul, capturing the complex relationship between nature and emotion. Through his delicate use of language, Nguyen Khuyen creates a timeless masterpiece that resonates with readers, inviting them to reflect on the beauty and sorrow of life.

With 'Thu Điếu,' Nguyen Khuyen has secured his place as one of the most important poets in classical Vietnamese literature, and his autumn poems continue to touch the hearts of readers today.

Autumn has long been a favorite theme in Vietnamese poetry, and each poet has their own unique perspective on the season. Among the many poems that celebrate autumn, it’s impossible to overlook the three autumn poems by Nguyễn Khuyến (Thu điếu, Thu ẩm, Thu vịnh), especially “Câu cá mùa thu” (Fishing in Autumn), which serves as an iconic representation of the autumn landscape in the rural northern region of Vietnam.

First, the autumn scene emerges with classical beauty — a beauty that embodies the quiet stillness both in the environment and in the artist’s heart. The poem begins by capturing the immediate, close-up space:

The autumn pond, cold and clear, the water crystal clear

For Nguyễn Khuyến, autumn is not just defined by the characteristic cool breeze, but also by the clear, “crystal clear” water, which conveys a certain chill. The poet’s acute senses allow him to experience the season in full. The coldness seeps into the very skin. Within the transparency of the water, Nguyễn Khuyến also perceives a unique color: “The azure waves ripple ever so slightly.” The stillness of the scene is represented by a subtle ripple in the water. Yet, this quiet space isn’t confined to the village but extends outward as the poet takes in the beauty of the autumn sky:

Soft clouds drift across the deep blue sky.

This line reveals the vastness of the space, and the deep blue not only evokes the tranquility of the sky but also enhances the sense of openness and freedom. The poet doesn’t stop there; he also notices the autumn leaves, gently swept by the wind: “Golden leaves flutter softly before the breeze.” Unlike in other poems where falling leaves symbolize separation or distance:

The rider rides, the others say farewell

Autumn leaves have tinged the forest with color

(Nguyễn Du)

In Nguyễn Khuyến’s poem, however, the falling leaf does not evoke that sense of separation. The golden leaf falling is simply a natural occurrence. The verb “flutter” adds a delicate motion, and the verse seems to capture the essence of autumn’s peaceful and serene spirit. The imagery in Nguyễn Khuyến’s poetry is simple and familiar, evoking not only the full soul of autumn but also the peaceful, humble life of the past. In this tranquil autumn space, humans appear as only a faint, quiet trace:

The winding bamboo path, no visitors to be found.

At the end of the poem, in this autumn-filled space, a solitary figure emerges, still and calm: The figure leans against a cushion, holding his fishing rod for a long time without success. The confined space of the small pond, paired with the quiet posture of the fisherman on the tiny boat, creates a harmonious blend between the human and the natural world. It’s as if in this space, everything is made smaller and quieter. The fisherman doesn’t seem concerned about catching fish; his prolonged wait without success conveys a sense of indifference and deep inner reflection.

With his masterful use of motion to describe stillness, the poet paints a scene of such peacefulness that even the faint sound of a fish nibbling at the bait startles the fisherman. Just the subtle sound of the fish causes the poet to snap back to reality, underscoring how tranquil life in the village was back then. Through the technique of punctuating stillness with motion, Nguyễn Khuyến’s classical autumn scene appears fresh, serene, and utterly peaceful.

Beyond the classical beauty, Nguyễn Khuyến’s autumn painting carries the distinct spirit of autumn in the northern plains, with numerous familiar images from the rural landscape: fishing boats, bamboo paths, ponds, and water lilies. Moreover, he expertly and skillfully utilizes the everyday language of life: clear, tiny, fluttering, desolate… to give the natural scene a deeper soul. These familiar images, combined with simple language, enrich the autumn picture.

Through the autumn scene that Nguyễn Khuyến has painted, readers can appreciate the poet’s talent and his profound love for nature.

The poem “Câu cá mùa thu” (Fishing in Autumn) is part of Nguyễn Khuyến’s autumn-themed poetry collection. Through this poem, readers are transported into a vivid and realistic depiction of autumn in a rural northern village.

The autumn scene is framed by the poet’s perspective, moving from a close-up view of a “tiny fishing boat” on a small pond to the distant “floating clouds.” The viewpoint shifts from near to far, from the “deep blue sky” back to the boat and the pond. This change in perspective adds depth to the image of autumn, transitioning from the narrow confines of a small pond to a broader portrayal of the entire autumn landscape.

From this viewpoint, the scene gradually unfolds with just a few key details. The first image of autumn is confined to a small, narrow pond with a delicate fishing boat. The autumn in the poet’s soul is reflected in the “cold autumn pond” and the “crystal-clear” water, like a giant mirror reflecting the surrounding world. While the boat is there, no human presence is yet seen:

The cold autumn pond, the water crystal clear

A tiny fishing boat, so small

As the next lines unfold, the quiet countryside begins to stir with subtle sounds:

The azure waves ripple slightly

Yellow leaves flutter before the wind

The small ripples are caused by the gentle, sheltered pond, stirred by the cool autumn breeze. Next, the “yellow leaves flutter before the wind” — just one simple verb, “flutter,” evokes the delicate motion of the falling leaves. The juxtaposition of “azure waves” and “yellow leaves” enhances the autumn image, adding elegance and harmony.

The floating clouds drift across the deep blue sky

The winding bamboo path, visitors few

Nguyễn Khuyến expands the space upwards to the blue sky, where the floating clouds add a poetic and romantic quality to the scene. The once expansive sky now narrows back to the intimate view of the winding village path, lined with bamboo that has stood for generations. The chill of autumn makes the path feel even more deserted, imbuing the autumn scene with a sense of melancholy. The poem closes with the image of the solitary figure:

The fisherman leans against his knee, waiting long without success

Not a ripple as a fish stirs beneath the lily pads.

Finally, a human figure enters the autumn scene. The poet is fishing, yet appears absorbed in thought, as if detached from the task at hand. Perhaps he is lost in deep contemplation. The faint sound of a fish stirring beneath the lily pads startles him, pulling him back to reality. These final two lines capture the poet’s state of peacefulness before the tranquil autumn landscape of his homeland.

Thus, through the poem “Câu cá mùa thu,” readers are invited to experience a quintessential autumn scene from the northern countryside of Vietnam.

Autumn has long been a prominent theme in world literature. In Vietnamese poetry, we find many works that can be classified as masterpieces on this topic, among which Nguyễn Khuyến's trio of autumn poems stands out. Each poem in this collection paints a unique autumn scene, and the poem “Fishing in Autumn” is considered “a quintessential representation of autumn poetry in the rural landscapes of Vietnam” (Xuân Diệu).

The autumn scene in this poem is explored from multiple perspectives: from near to far, from low to high, and from narrow to wide. Through these varied viewpoints, the autumn scenery unfolds in a lively and evocative way. From the pond to the sky, and then to the village path, the spirit of autumn is vividly captured, reflecting the rural charm of the northern plains. This spirit is evoked through elements that are peaceful and serene: the clear, small pond, the tiny fishing boat, the gentle rippling of azure waves, the soft flutter of yellow leaves, the floating clouds, and the winding bamboo paths. The harmony of green skies blending with the green water, accented by a touch of yellow from the fallen leaves, creates a tranquil, ethereal autumn landscape. These images conjure up the sense of a peaceful autumn morning in a northern village, with its expansive skies, clear ponds reflecting the colors of the sky and leaves, narrow winding paths shaded by bamboo, and a cool autumn breeze stirring the surface of the water. This scene, though simple and rustic, is vividly painted by Nguyễn Khuyến with such natural grace that it captivates the reader's emotions. It is a pure, refreshing, and serene autumn that has come time and again to our homeland.

The scene in “Fishing in Autumn” is beautiful, yet still and tinged with melancholy. It is a space devoid of people and sound: “The winding bamboo path, visitors few.” There is movement, but it is subtle and gentle: slight ripples, leaves gently moving, clouds drifting... the sound of fish nibbling on bait is faint. These delicate motions do not make the autumn scene lively; rather, they enhance its stillness. Every element in this scene, from the cold, clear water to the deep blue sky, contributes to an overwhelming sense of quiet and sorrow. The air feels stagnant, as though everything has come to a standstill, frozen in absolute silence. Even the fisherman sitting with his fishing rod does not seem anxious despite his lack of success. His stillness reflects a deeper tranquility, one that exists beyond surface appearances, in the very depths of his mind. Human and nature have harmonized into a single entity, embodying the soul of the autumn scene. The stillness and sadness are not signs of lifelessness or despair, but of clarity, serenity, and the timeless vitality of nature.

Only someone deeply connected to their homeland, with a soul sensitive enough, could have captured the simple yet poetic beauty of autumn in the northern countryside as Nguyễn Khuyến did. His autumn poems enrich Vietnamese literature with their natural, straightforward verses that embody the soul of the land.

Nature and the changing seasons have always been an endless source of inspiration for poets, with autumn standing out as a central theme in both world and Vietnamese literature. Among the many poets who have written about autumn, Nguyễn Khuyến has made this season his own, creating a trio of autumn poems, with "Fishing in Autumn" regarded as a definitive representation of autumn poetry in Vietnam.

The autumn scene in this poem is captured from many different angles: from near to far, from low to high, from narrow to wide, allowing the beauty of autumn to unfold in a dynamic and approachable way. Everything is touched by autumn, from the small pond to the autumn sky, and even the winding village path. This autumn spirit permeates the entire northern village landscape. The essence of autumn is evoked through simple, familiar images, such as the clear pond with gentle ripples, the tiny fishing boat, the softly swaying yellow leaves, the floating clouds, and the winding bamboo paths. All these elements come together to create a vibrant and authentic autumn scene.

Beyond contributing to the depiction of autumn, the lines and colors also evoke the image of a peaceful autumn morning in the northern plains. The scene comes to life with a vast, clear blue sky, transparent ponds reflecting the sky and the trees, winding village paths shaded by bamboo groves, and a cool autumn breeze that gently stirs the water. Nguyễn Khuyến’s natural depiction of this landscape leaves the reader in awe, as though they themselves were immersed in this refreshing moment of autumn in the homeland.

The poem’s central focus is the autumn scene, which blends the beauty of nature with a sense of stillness and subtle melancholy. It is a space devoid of people and sound: “The winding bamboo path, visitors few.” Everything seems to move slowly and gently: ripples on the water, leaves fluttering softly, clouds drifting, and the faint sound of fish nibbling on bait. These quiet motions do not add liveliness to the scene; instead, they enhance its stillness.

This stillness also carries a sense of sadness, as seen in the cold clarity of the water and the deep blue of the autumn sky, which create a sense of tranquility that stretches from the sky to the earth. Even the person in the scene, the fisherman, seems to be enveloped in an unusual quietude. Despite not catching any fish, the fisherman remains calm, undisturbed by impatience. This stillness runs deep, reflecting a quiet, dreamlike state within the fisherman’s mind. The harmony between the landscape and the person creates the soul of the autumn scene. This stillness and melancholy are not of lifelessness or despair, but of purity and a romantic mindset, immersed in the eternal vitality of nature's beauty.

Through this poem, we can conclude that Nguyễn Khuyến, with his deep love for his homeland, his profound emotional sensitivity, and his poetic insight, has beautifully captured the simple yet profound beauty of autumn in the northern countryside. His simple, natural poetry enriches Vietnamese literature, making the country’s autumn poems even more vivid and distinctive.

Nguyễn Khuyến was a highly learned and talented individual, though he only served as a government official for a little over ten years before returning to his homeland to teach. He left behind a rich body of work, with over 800 compositions, mostly poems written in both Classical Chinese and Nôm script. A significant theme in his works is his portrayal of rural life, and one of the most notable poems in this regard is "Câu cá mùa thu" (Fishing in Autumn).

The poem is part of Nguyễn Khuyến's autumn poetry collection, which consists of three pieces: "Thu vịnh" (Autumn Praise), "Thu ẩm" (Autumn Drink), and "Thu điếu" (Fishing in Autumn). These three poems were written during the time when the poet withdrew from public life to live in seclusion in his hometown. "Câu cá mùa thu" captures the beauty of autumn with a profound portrayal of both nature and the poet's feelings towards it.

The poem begins with a classical depiction of autumn, a recurring subject in traditional poetry, as exemplified in Nguyễn Du’s famous lines:

Riders on horseback, travelers parting ways

Autumn maple leaves have tinged the mountain pass

In Nguyễn Khuyến's hands, the image of autumn becomes a familiar poetic symbol:

The autumn pond is cold, its water crystal clear

From the perspective of a fisherman in a small boat, the autumn scene is unfolded in multiple directions. The spaciousness of the autumn landscape allows the poet to fully appreciate its beauty. He evokes tactile sensations with the "cold" of the pond's water, as well as visual impressions of its clarity. Autumn brings with it a calmness as the water, no longer muddied by the summer’s heat and sudden rains, settles into tranquility. The ripples of the water are faint, suggesting an atmosphere of complete stillness. One can almost hear the faintest movements of the waves.

The scene continues to expand as the poet's gaze lifts to the sky, now a clear and deep blue: "The clouds hover, the sky is an intense blue." This line reflects the boundless height of the sky, evoking a sense of serenity and peace. The deep, vibrant blue contributes to the feeling of vastness. The scene is further enriched by the yellow of a leaf: "The yellow leaf gently flutters before the wind." This delicate, small leaf, with its subtle movement, encapsulates the gentleness and tranquility of the autumn season, as well as the simplicity of rural life.

Amidst this autumn scene, humans are barely present—there is only a solitary figure in the quiet alley. Later, the fisherman appears once more, sitting still in the boat, seemingly disinterested in the act of fishing itself. The poet's masterful technique of contrasting movement and stillness is evident: the waves are barely rippling, the leaf flutters lightly, the clouds hover, and the only sound is the faintest indication of fish nibbling at the bait. This final sound does not disrupt the peaceful scene; instead, it deepens the tranquility. Through the poet’s words, the autumn landscape of Northern Vietnam is depicted with beauty, serenity, and a distinct rural charm.

The painting of autumn also reveals the poet's inner emotions: a sense of melancholy, a calm soul, and a profound loneliness. This feeling of autumn is reflected in the blue sky and the yellow leaf. The final two lines of the poem capture the poet’s solitude as he fishes, indifferent to the world around him, using the act of fishing as a means to contemplate the changing times. The use of the rhyme "eo" adds a wistful tone, perfectly complementing the melancholic mood of the poem.

The poet’s art of describing the scenery while subtly expressing his inner thoughts effectively conveys his sentiments about the changing world. With exquisite language and a mastery of poetic technique, Nguyễn Khuyến paints a scene rich with intricate details, using classical stylistic elements, such as the depiction of nature and the delicate balance of motion and stillness, while also incorporating the poet’s personal reflections. The simplicity and depth of his language offer a poignant insight into both the landscape and the poet's own inner world.

With his skillful brushwork and concise yet profound language, Nguyễn Khuyến portrays a beautiful scene that is representative of rural Vietnam, revealing the poet’s love for nature and his deep reflections on the passing of time and the world around him.

Nguyễn Khuyến stands as one of the most significant poets in Vietnamese classical literature. His poems are marked by simple yet profound language, clear expression, and emotional depth. His works are deeply connected to the rural Vietnamese landscape, capturing the essence of rural life with great empathy, which is why Nguyễn Khuyến is often referred to as the poet of Vietnam's countryside. One of his most famous works is the poem "Câu cá mùa thu" (Fishing in Autumn), a masterpiece that vividly paints the autumn landscape of rural Vietnam while also revealing the poet's deep love for nature, his homeland, and the country.

The poem begins by setting a serene, clear, and somewhat lonely autumn scene, particularly with the image of a "small fishing boat":

The autumn pond is cold, its water crystal clear

A tiny fishing boat, small and unadorned

The autumn space is introduced through the pond and the boat, with adjectives like "cold" and "small" evoking a sense of solitude and peace. These lines don’t just describe the quiet, tranquil space of autumn in the countryside but also bring out visual sensations such as the "tiny fishing boat" and the feeling of "coldness". Thus, with these first two lines, Nguyễn Khuyến sketches an autumn scene in the rural North of Vietnam, with simple, familiar images that harmonize into a peaceful and intimate atmosphere. The autumn picture gradually becomes richer with vivid, distinct imagery:

The blue waves gently ripple in the breeze

The yellow leaf flutters before the wind

Nguyễn Khuyến's autumn scene becomes even more delicate and alive with the images of the waves rippling and the yellow leaf fluttering. The artistic technique of contrasting motion with stillness makes this autumn scene especially unique. In a landscape that is quiet and still, the poet, with his affectionate and connected heart, can still sense the subtle, gentle movements of nature, capturing the simple yet refined beauty of autumn. The "yellow leaf," a common symbol of autumn, often represents decay and sadness, but in this poem, it takes on a different significance, adding softness and harmony to the autumn picture.

The clouds hang lightly in the deep blue sky

The winding bamboo path is deserted

While the first two lines focus on the horizontal space of the autumn pond, the next two lines expand the space vertically as the poet’s gaze rises to the sky, capturing the tranquil, drifting clouds and the deep blue sky. The autumn scene is beautiful but also still. The sky is calm, represented by the winding bamboo path that adds a sense of quiet isolation. The shared green of the sky and the bamboo intensify the quiet, and the use of the word "deserted" emphasizes the stillness of the scene.

The fisherman rests his knee, casting his line for a while,

The fish make no movement under the water’s surface

In these final two lines, Nguyễn Khuyến introduces the human element into the autumn scene. The fisherman, resting his knee and casting his line, suggests a calm, detached attitude as though lost in the beauty of the autumn surroundings, unaffected by the fishing itself. Once again, the technique of contrasting motion and stillness is employed effectively, as the movement of the fish under the water is barely noticeable. This subtle movement mirrors the social and political turbulence of Nguyễn Khuyến's time. Though he had retreated to the countryside, he was still deeply concerned with the changes in society, reflecting the mind of a poet who was both patriotic and empathetic.

The poem "Câu cá mùa thu" is one of the finest works that captures the essence of autumn. Not only does it depict a peaceful, simple autumn scene in the rural countryside, but it also reveals the poet’s profound connection to the land, the people, and the times.

Fishing is a refined pleasure for intellectuals. Some wise figures, with extraordinary talents, resort to fishing to await favorable times. Sitting by the shore, no one is concerned with the distant corners of the world or the chaotic affairs of life. ‘The fish bite, the whiskered catfish waits by the shore’ (some even use straight fishing rods like the legendary master, Khương Tử Nha of China). There are also those who take up fishing for the simple pleasure of being in tune with nature, reflecting in a relaxed state. Nguyễn Khuyến fished in this manner. He fully opened his senses to absorb the autumn season, which also marked the fishing time in the northern region of Vietnam. Like the children in his village, he fished with focus, excitement, and passion. The result of this pursuit was the creation of the masterpiece poem 'Autumn Fishing' (Thu điếu):

Cold autumn pond, clear water like a mirror,

A tiny fishing boat, small and insignificant.

Blue waves ripple lightly,

Yellow leaves flutter in the wind.

Clouds float high in the sky so blue,

Bamboo-lined paths, deserted and still.

Leaning on my knee, holding my rod, unable to catch a thing,

Where are the fish? Not a ripple beneath the water’s surface.

The autumn imagery in the poem appears within a small, intimate space of the poet's rural home, on a tiny pond with a delicate fishing boat floating gently:

Cold autumn pond, clear water like a mirror,

A tiny fishing boat, small and insignificant.

The poet's presence is subtly hidden behind the words. His feelings emerge with sharpness and finesse. Autumn has reached its depth, with the 'cold autumn pond' and the 'clear water' inviting a gaze, like the pond is a mirror reflecting the village life. The poet's village, Bùi, is full of small ponds, and a small boat fits in this narrow space. The verse flows smoothly, deceptively effortless, like a simple natural image. The boat appears, yet the fisher is invisible. The poet is engrossed in the autumn’s water and sky:

Blue waves ripple lightly,

Yellow leaves flutter in the wind.

The pond is no longer still but rippling with two strong consonants at the start of the verse ('blue waves') and at the end ('slight ripples'). The small waves are created by the narrowness of the pond, hidden in a secluded place. The autumn breeze is light and gentle. Waves even take on color, ‘blue waves,’ which are beautiful. The poet’s precision is evident even in the smallest details. The two balanced verses, ‘blue waves’ and ‘yellow leaves,’ reflect autumn’s characteristic hues. The phrase ‘slight ripples’ matches the ‘gentle flutter,’ where vertical movement mirrors horizontal movement in a perfect balance.

Yellow leaves flutter in the wind.

The poet lets his soul follow the yellow leaf ‘gently fluttering’ on the clear pond surface. The yellow of autumn has been celebrated by many poets:

The golden deer wanders,

Stepping on dry yellow leaves.

(Lưu Trọng Lư)

Golden leaves fall! Fall! The vast autumn.

(Bích Khê)

And here is Nguyễn Khuyến's golden leaf in ‘Autumn Fishing’ through Xuân Diệu’s eyes: ‘The charm of ‘Autumn Fishing’ lies in its greens – the green of the pond, the green of the shore, the green of the waves, the green of the bamboo, the green of the sky, the green of the water, with a single yellow leaf that crosses the scene…’. Xuân Diệu’s commentary is highly insightful. The poet expands the space vertically, creating an open atmosphere, enriching the landscape of ‘Autumn Fishing’ with more detail and color:

Clouds float high in the sky so blue,

Bamboo-lined paths, deserted and still.

The ‘deep blue’ sky is so beautiful, a soft yet earnest shade of blue. Within the ‘deep blue’ is a profound sense of height. The clouds float, ‘lingering’ in the sky, seemingly motionless, while the poet captures a serene, peaceful autumn scene. The poet then returns to the intimate image of the village. ‘Bamboo-lined paths,’ the winding country roads shaded by bamboo trees. But in Nguyễn Khuyến’s poems, bamboo is often called ‘trúc,’ as in the line ‘Bamboo rods sway in the wind.’ (Autumn Reminiscences), ‘Bamboo-lined paths, deserted and still.’ Nguyễn Khuyến appreciates the bamboo’s resilient character: ‘Even when bamboo is burned, it still stands straight.’ The contrast between the straightness of bamboo and the winding nature of the paths is evocative. The cold, quiet road is ‘deserted.’ The autumn picture is imbued with melancholy. Poets often describe autumn as tranquil, beautiful, but tinged with sadness. After Nguyễn Khuyến, the romantic poet Xuân Diệu also wrote:

The chill seeps through the wind,

And no one crosses the ferry any longer.

(Here Comes Autumn)

The poem ends with the image of the fisherman, resembling a self-portrait:

Leaning on my knee, holding my rod, unable to catch a thing,

Where are the fish? Not a ripple beneath the water’s surface.

The poet draws himself into the scene, ‘leaning on my knee and holding the rod,’ as if to match the small pond, the tiny boat. He becomes absorbed in his thoughts when a simple action suddenly awakens him:

Where are the fish? Not a ripple beneath the water’s surface.

The three words with the letter ‘đ’ (where, bite, ripple) describe the slight disturbance in the pond’s surface, but also convey a great disturbance in the poet’s soul. Some have argued that Nguyễn Khuyến’s fishing behavior mirrors that of Khương Tử Nha, and they praise both. But no! Nguyễn Khuyến wasn’t waiting for a favorable moment. The poet simply wanted to blend into nature, to become one with the land and water. The entire poetic image of ‘Autumn Fishing’ prepares for this attitude. The scene is small, the pond narrow, the boat tiny. The poet ‘leans on my knee and holds the rod,’ merging with nature, merging with the land. How then could Nguyễn Khuyến’s approach to fishing be compared to that of Khương Tử Nha? Supporting one side is a personal matter. I stand with Nguyễn Khuyến.

In Nguyễn Khuyến’s collection of poems about autumn, if I were to choose one, it would be ‘Autumn Fishing.’ This poem is a masterpiece of Vietnamese classical literature. The autumn scene is described with exquisite harmonies, suggestive details, and unique melodies. The rhyme scheme, though complex, flows naturally and spontaneously. According to Xuân Diệu, the poem is flawless in every word. The poet’s emotions match his exceptional craft. His love for the homeland, the village, the land, and the country permeates every line, touching the hearts of every Vietnamese soul.