Top 13 Best Essays Analyzing the Poem "The Two Words of the Homeland" by Trần Tuấn Khải

In the 1920s, songs and poems written in folk melodies, along with the traditional forms like luc bat, song that luc bat, and that ngôn, were widely circulated in the folk community. The heroic figures mentioned by Trần Tuấn Khải serve as a source of inspiration for patriotism, expressing the painful memories of slavery and oppression while fueling an unwavering desire for freedom and independence.

The excerpt from the poem "The Two Words of the Homeland" contains 36 verses written in song that luc bat, a style used by Trần Tuấn Khải in 1926 and included in the collection "Bút quan hoài". In the prologue, the poet explains his inspiration as coming from "the words of Phi Khanh to Nguyễn Trãi when he was captured by the Minh army and taken to China". Thus, we understand that "The Two Words of the Homeland" uses history as a backdrop to express patriotism and to awaken the desire for independence and freedom during the period of French colonialism.

The prologue takes us back to the painful years of the nation's history. In 1407, the Minh invaders ravaged the country, plunging it into bloodshed. They captured Phi Khanh and his son Hồ Quý Li, along with many officials, including Nguyễn Phi Khanh, taking them to China. The poem can be seen as a father's last words to his son, speaking of the "Two Words of the Homeland", and the national revenge they must bear.

In the first part of the excerpt, the poet evokes the tragic scene of the nation suffering under the brutal rule of the Minh invaders. Vivid images like "dark clouds", "the cold, sorrowful wind", and "the roar of tigers and the cry of birds" bring the landscape and nature into alignment with human suffering. The vast space from the "northern border" to the "southern frontier" and "the four seas" is soaked with the blood and tears of millions of people:

"Chốn ải Bắc, mây sầu ảm đạm,
Cõi trời Nam, gió thảm đìu hiu
Bốn bể hổ thét chim kêu..."

Faced with the calamity of "national loss", the elderly father, on his way to exile, is overwhelmed with sorrow. Words and images such as "unrest", "blood-soaked tears", and "flooding pearls" poignantly capture the historical tragedy of Phi Khanh and Nguyễn Trãi. The verse is filled with sorrow, as the poet's voice becomes desperate and heart-wrenching:

"Trông con tầm tã châu rơi
Con ơi! Con nhớ lấy lời cha khuyên"

Nguyễn Trãi once wrote, "Anh hùng di hận kỉ thiên niên" (The hero leaves behind a grudge for a thousand years). In the first part of "The Two Words of the Homeland", Trần Tuấn Khải powerfully expresses the pain of national defeat and the deep resentment of Nguyễn Phi Khanh.

The second part contains the father's passionate instructions to his son. To remember the "Two Words of the Homeland" is to honor the legacy of the Hồng Lạc ancestors, to recall the nation’s enduring history spanning "thousands of years", and to recall the "southern land" that belongs to Vietnam. To remember the "Two Words of the Homeland" is to lift the national pride and honor:

"Giời Nam riêng một cõi này
Anh hùng hiệp nữ xưa nay kém gì!"

The poet’s voice grows fierce with anger as the father instructs his son to forever remember the terrible crimes of the "mad Minh" invaders:

"Bốn phương khói lửa bừng bừng.
Xiết bao thảm họa xương rừng máu sông
Nơi đô thị thành tung quách vỡ
Chốn nhân gian bỏ vợ lìa con,
Làm cho xiêu tán hao mòn
.....
Khói Hùng Lĩnh như xây khói uất
Sông Hồng Giang nhường vật cơn sầu"

The vivid expressions "blazing fire smoke", "bone-crushing rivers of blood", "broken cities", and "the earth weeps, the heavens mourn" may seem metaphorical, but in context, they powerfully evoke the humiliation of losing the country and the profound hatred for the invaders. Notably, Trần Tuấn Khải’s verse also recalls the historical context of the "Bình Ngô đại cáo", which condemns the Minh's brutal crimes:

"Nướng dân đen trên ngọn lửa hung tàn,
Vùi con đỏ xuống dưới hầm tai vạ
Dối trời, lừa dân, đủ muôn nghìn kể,
Gây binh, kết oán, trải hai mươi năm
Bại nhân nghĩa nát cả đất trời
Nặng thuế khóa sạch không đầm núi..."

As the father, shackled and exiled to China, watches the nation’s decline, his heart aches, feeling as if it is being torn apart. The pain deepens as he worries about the nation's future and the survival of his people. His lament and rhetorical question come out with a heart-wrenching urgency:

"Con ơi! Càng nói càng đau
Lấy ai tế độ đần sau đó mà?"

The verse seems soaked with tears, filled with sobs and regret. The father's advice to his son is also a call to the nation. The last eight lines of the poem express both the tragedy of the aging father, "old and frail", and the hope placed in his son to avenge the nation and restore its freedom:

"Giang san gánh vác sau này cậy con"...
"Vì nước" hãy "nhớ tổ tông", hãy đem máu đào mà hi sinh chiến đấu cho độc lập của Tổ quốc. Đó là "hai chữ nước nhà" đó là những lời huyết lệ:

"Con nên nhớ tổ tông khi trước
Đã từng phen vì nước gian lao
Bắc Nam bờ cõi phân mao
Ngọn cờ độc lập máu đào còn đây..."

"The Two Words of the Homeland" is a powerful and moving poem. It concisely expresses the sorrow, the humiliation of national defeat, and the hatred toward the Minh invaders who seized the country in the 15th century. Moreover, the poem serves to inspire patriotism and reignite the longing for independence during the French colonial era. It is both a father's last words and a call from the nation.

From its language, imagery, and tone to the metaphors and symbols, the poem displays a sophisticated, distinctive artistic style. In the colonial era, "The Two Words of the Homeland" stirred millions of hearts. Even today, it continues to resonate deeply with us.

Among the many literary works circulating publicly on the legal literary scene in the first thirty years of the 20th century, the poem "Two Words of the Homeland" received a warm welcome from the public. This is because the poem expressed the patriotic hearts and souls of the Vietnamese people at that time.

Trần Tuấn Khải, a man with a passionate and sincere love for his country, felt deep sorrow for the current tragic state of the nation. To express his feelings, he embodied historical figures. The outrage and sorrow of these historical figures over the loss of their homeland mirrored his own emotions. This sentiment became the sincere and moving inspiration for Trần Tuấn Khải’s patriotic poetry that resonated deeply within the hearts of the people.

The poem "Two Words of the Homeland" was published in the collection *Bút quan hoài* in 1924. Drawing on the historical backdrop of the Minh army’s invasion, Trần Tuấn Khải chose a particularly poignant historical moment to intensify the emotional impact of the story. This moment was the final farewell of two victims of the lost nation: father and son Nguyễn Phi Khanh. The scene was so moving that the father’s parting words became a final, tearful admonition.

The poet portrayed the outrage and sorrow through the touching and emotional tone of the *song thất lục bát* verse form, which carries a strong resonance and emotional power. The farewell between father and son took place in the northern borderlands, at the end of the country.

The father bids farewell to his family, homeland, and country, and embarks on the path of exile. Meanwhile, the son returns to his homeland, but his situation is no less sorrowful than his father's: he too is a victim of a lost nation! In the sorrowful mood of both father and son, the landscape is imbued with a melancholic and tragic atmosphere:

The northern frontier is covered in sorrowful clouds,

The southern sky is swept by a mournful wind,

The roar of tigers and the cries of birds fill the air.

The mournful and tragic surroundings only heighten the sorrow and pain felt in the hearts of the characters. The imagery of "sorrowful clouds" and "mournful wind" create an emotional and atmospheric connection to the collective sorrow of the time, resonating with both past and present pain.

In the tragic atmosphere of the nation, the situation of the father and son is even more tragic: the son wishes to follow his father in filial piety, but the father urges him to stay and focus on avenging their fallen country and family. The bond of father and son is deep, yet the duty to the nation runs deeper still. The love for family and the call to serve the nation create an emotional conflict, causing both father and son great pain and sorrow:

Hot blood soaks into the spirit of the nation,

Worn-out bodies take slow steps towards exile,

Looking at the son, tears fall like pearls,

My son, remember the advice I give you.

In such a somber and emotionally charged context, the father’s final words are sacred, moving, and powerfully compelling, urging the son to commit them to memory. To strengthen his message, the father highlights the heinous crimes of the invading forces and the dire state of the nation:

The fate of our country is at a turning point,

As the Minh forces seize the opportunity to invade,

The four corners of the country are engulfed in flames,

The land is covered in the blood of the fallen!

In the cities, walls crumble,

The common people are abandoned, families torn apart,

Everything falls into chaos and decay,

Is there anyone left who cares for the suffering of the people?

The poetry is filled with intense outrage and deep sorrow, deeply stirring the readers' hearts. Those who read it in the 1920s, victims of their own country's oppression, could easily relate to the pain of Nguyễn Phi Khanh and his son as though it were their own. After describing the dire situation of the nation and the crimes of the invaders, the father directly expresses his inner turmoil:

What tragedy it is to lose a nation, so overwhelming it cannot be expressed,

Watching our kingdom crumble breaks my heart,

The land weeps, the heavens mourn,

How I pity our people in this suffering!

The Nùng Lĩnh mountains seem to be consumed by a storm of rage,

The Hồng River echoes with the sorrow of despair,

My son! The more I speak, the more it hurts,

Who will come to our rescue now?

The eight lines of *song thất lục bát* are a powerful outpouring of sorrow and despair, filled with vivid imagery and emotions such as "overwhelming sorrow", "heartbreaking pain", "weeping", and "mourning" that capture the deep, poignant grief of the father. The father seems to have forgotten his own pain and fate, only thinking of the suffering and destiny of the country and its people.

Such a heartfelt and noble heart is truly awe-inspiring! From this sorrow, the poet's voice grows even more passionate. His fervent love for the nation continues to resonate across generations. His deep patriotism is encapsulated in his parting words to his son, and to future generations: "My son! Remember my words."

Is this story of the father’s agony not also a reflection of the poet’s own ongoing concern for his nation? This deep, unwavering concern has inspired the poet’s passionate voice, one that touches the hearts of all who love their homeland (Xuân Diệu).

Inspired by the words of Nguyễn Phi Khanh, which he passed on to his son Nguyễn Trãi when the Ming army captured him and sent him to China, Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải composed the poem “Two Words of the Homeland.” The poem uses a historical event, rich in emotional resonance, to express feelings of patriotism and encourage the people's determination to save the country.

The northern border is engulfed in gloomy clouds

The southern skies are blanketed by desolate winds

Everywhere, the howls of tigers and the calls of birds

While gazing upon the landscape, a sense of injustice stirs within me.

The depiction of nature is sorrowful and bleak, set in the northern border and the southern sky. This landscape is desolate, lonely, even harboring danger, creating the backdrop for the separation of Nguyễn Phi Khanh and his son Nguyễn Trãi:

The blood of the nation seeps into the soul of the country

A frail body takes one last step toward exile

As I watch my son weep, tears falling like pearls

My child, remember the words of your father:

“The blood of the nation seeps into the soul of the country” is perhaps a metaphor for love of the nation or the bond between father and son, intertwined with the sentiment of patriotism in the father's advice to his son:

Like the ancient Hồng Lạc, heaven has determined

Thousands of years of rise and fall, changes unfold

This land, the southern sky, is ours alone

Heroes and heroines of old were never lacking!

With a voice full of grandeur mixed with sorrow, the father expresses hatred for the invaders who turned the country into a sea of flames:

Saddened by the nation's fate, it undergoes a transformation

As the Ming army takes advantage of the situation to invade

Smoke and fire rise from all directions

The disaster of bones in the forest and blood in the rivers is endless!

The city walls fall, collapsing

The people abandon their wives, children

Scattered, worn out, fading away

How could one still hold love for a country that seems doomed?

The images are vivid, showing the accumulated crimes of the invaders, the Ming army's actions bringing endless suffering to the people, and turning the land into ruins, a scene that breaks the hearts of loyal subjects and righteous warriors:

The nation's tragedy cannot be described in words

Behold the broken kingdom, my heart torn asunder

With sorrow, I cry for the earth and sky

Grief for the descendants of the suffering race!

The smoke of Nùng fields rises like a mass of anger

The waves of Long River turn to sorrowful surges

My child! The more I speak, the more it hurts...

Who will save the next generations?

In the endless grief for the people, Nguyễn Phi Khanh leaves his son with a question: “Who will save the next generations?” This rhetorical question is full of pain, reflecting the father's deep concern for the future of the nation, for his people. He knows that this is a farewell, and in this final moment of parting, he hopes to pass on his lifelong ideals to his son, urging him to carry on the mission:

My heart aches for my aging body, weak and frail

In times of misfortune, I must surrender

But I entrust the burden of the nation to you, my son

The weight of the land, the duty to save it, lies in your hands

He reminds his son to remember the ancestors, the national traditions, the heroes who have fought for the land:

Remember the ancestors who once endured hardship for the country

The borders of the North and South were once divided

The flag of independence still stains with blood

See, Trưng Nữ took charge of the boat's rudder

Her delicate figure turned against the storm

She killed the invaders, avenging her husband

The voice of the female hero echoes through the ages

Look, Hưng Đạo faced national turmoil

He fought countless battles to protect the nation

The Bạch Đằng River defeated the Yuan army

The sword’s cry echoed, its justice resounding

History shows that the sword still speaks

The land remains whole, the country unbroken

This land is still ours, yet now we face ruin—why?

You, my child, are one of the nation’s people

You must remember both family and country

As a man, you must stand firm for all four directions

How could you live with shame before the legacy of Hồng Lạc?

In times of crisis, heroes will arise

Do not care for wealth and fame!

The brave warriors of old

They sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country

You are young, full of life and energy

But competition in this world is fierce, and no one will yield easily

Remember to cherish the legacy of our people

Do not seek wealth and status and forget your true purpose

To live in servitude, bound by shame;

To live freely and with honor is the true path to glory

My child, remember the debt of your ancestors

Do not let the world tarnish your name

Do not surrender to slavery

Do not betray your ancestors for survival

Do not live in disgrace for all eternity

To live like this is to live in shame, in dishonor

Better to die than to live as a dog or a servant

Especially when you have received a good education

As a man, you must assess your worth

What is the point of bowing your head and submitting?

In the face of hardship, make sure to live with dignity!

That is my final advice to you, my child. Remember it always:

Nguyễn Phi Khanh seems to be giving his final, heartfelt words to his son, urging him to love the country, cherish the people, live with integrity, and never forget the true path, even if it means enduring hardship and death. After imparting these last words, the father must depart, leaving behind a legacy for his son:

The father now departs, full of sorrow

The more he speaks, the deeper the pain!

As he gazes at the far horizon, his heart aches for the homeland he is leaving behind

The northern border is desolate, and the sorrow of father and son makes it all the more tragic. As he walks away, his head still turns back to leave one final message, wanting his son to remember his words to continue the fight for independence and freedom:

Let these words sink deep into your heart

No matter how difficult the trials, do not stray from the mission

Take up the sword and swear by it

Put your heart and soul into reclaiming the land

Let the bravery of a man shine forth, unwavering

The duty of a man is to make this land his home

Your efforts will be immortalized like statues and monuments

Once the enemy is defeated

And the nation is restored to glory

Remember, my child, the nation’s honor is in your hands!

Do you understand your duty?

Think about it and do what is right

Though I may be buried in a foreign land

My heart will always yearn for my homeland

My child, remember the two words: the homeland!

This is the “duty” of a person in life, the duty to the “two words: homeland.” The final line of the poem is like the last echo of a heart full of love for the country, and yet, it is tinged with pain and sorrow, leaving an unforgettable impression on the reader’s heart. Reading “Two Words of the Homeland” makes us feel as if a deep love for the country is awakening within our hearts.

The poem 'Two Words of the Homeland' conveys deep, sincere emotions, capturing both the poignant and sorrowful state of the historical figure, as well as evoking patriotic feelings and the desire to save the nation. The poem begins by recounting the moment when father and son are parting, at the desolate border of the homeland:

The northern frontier is clouded with sorrow

The southern sky, winds mournful and bleak

All around, the roars of tigers and the calls of birds

The scene appears as if calling for justice

It is unclear whether this is the sorrow of the landscape or the sorrow of the person. Nguyễn Phi Khanh is being taken to China, understanding that this journey is one from which he will not return, perhaps the last time he will stand on his homeland's soil and speak to his son. Therefore:

The blood-soaked tears permeate the spirit of the nation

The weary body steps lightly through the land

Seeing my son, tears falling like pearls

My child, remember my final advice:

“The blood-soaked tears” here symbolize the sorrowful tears of a father, as if blood is oozing from his heart. The image of a tired, broken father walking with a heavy heart leaves a profound impression. In this moment of despair, he can only give his son his last words:

Like the ancient Hồng Lạc people, fate was determined by the heavens

Through thousands of years, the nation has gone through rise and fall

This southern land is unique

Heroes and heroines have never been lacking!

The father carries a heavy heart filled with endless sorrow, feeling immense pain for his nation’s fate:

Woe to the nation when its fate changes

As the Ming army invades

All around, smoke and fire rage

Countless disasters, bones in the forest, blood in the rivers!

The city walls are crumbling

Families are torn apart

The people suffer greatly

How can we ignore this suffering?

The nation’s demise is too much to bear

Seeing the ruins of the homeland tears at the soul

We cry for the land, lament the heavens

Grieve for the suffering of our people!

All Nguyễn Phi Khanh could think of as he left was the fate of his people, the future of his nation. He grieved deeply for the suffering of the people, seeing his homeland in ruins. Perhaps the pain was not just of the people but also of nature itself:

The smoke of the Nùng mountains rises like a block of bitterness

The Long River waves with sorrow

My child, the more I speak, the more it pains...

Who will save the next generations?

This rhetorical question encapsulates all of his worries about the future of the nation, the people, and the next generations. But at this moment, all he can do is:

The father grieves for his old age and weakness

Having fallen into misfortune, he is helpless

His body weak, he cannot escape the mud

The nation’s future depends on you, my son

With all his hopes and dreams placed on his son’s shoulders, the father urges his son to follow the right path in their final moments together, aiming for a noble goal:

My child, remember the ancestors who toiled for the nation

Through hardships in both the north and the south

They raised the flag of independence with their blood

Look to the heroic women like Trưng Sisters

Fighting to avenge their country, their husbands

Their names still echo through the ages

Look at Hưng Đạo, who fought for the nation’s survival

In the Bạch Đằng River, he defeated the Mongol army

With his sword, he instilled righteousness and pride

Look at history, the sword still shines bright

The land we stand on is ours to protect

The nation will remain strong, and will not fall!

Nguyễn Phi Khanh reminds his son of the history of their nation, of the heroes who fought to defend it, urging his son to take responsibility for the land and its future:

You, too, are a part of this nation

Remember both family and country

As a man, you must protect the four corners of the earth

Do not dishonor the legacy of the Lạc Hồng

Heroes rise in every era

We should not be concerned with wealth or status!

Many great men in history

Sacrificed their lives for the nation

You are young and full of potential

The world is full of challenges, do not yield easily!

Love the people, protect the land

Do not be swayed by wealth and power

Do not live as a slave or subject

Preserve your dignity and honor

Live freely, with pride and integrity

My child, remember the teachings I give

Do not tarnish our family’s name

Do not follow the path of servitude

Do not betray the ancestors who built this land

Live a life of honor, and do not bow to oppression

If you must live, live with purpose

If you must die, die with dignity

Do not live a life of submission!

My child, be a true person

Embrace the responsibilities I have placed upon you

In my heart, the sorrow of our homeland is heavy

In the end, the words “the homeland” remain, forever echoing in my soul.

The final moment of separation has come. After all, even as father and son fade into the distance, the words 'the homeland' still resonate in their hearts. Simple words, yet they leave a profound impression on the reader’s soul.

Reading 'Two Words of the Homeland', one is moved by the shared idealism and noble emotions of these remarkable historical figures.

The poems of the 20th century, focused primarily on the proud history of the nation, patriotism, and the search for new directions to advance the country, reflect the passion of the poets. Trần Tuấn Khải's 'Two Words of the Homeland' is one such remarkable work, where the poet immerses himself in the character, using a skilled poetic form and a deeply personal tone to portray the lives of patriotic intellectuals, passing their spirit to future generations of this heroic nation.

The poem is a long excerpt of 36 lines, a famous work written in the collection 'Bút quan hoài I' in 1924. The author's clear, structured thoughts are beautifully conveyed through the exquisite form of 'song thất lục bát', evoking profound emotions in the reader.

The content of the poem is familiar yet striking, as the theme of patriotism is expressed through heartfelt words from a father, a patriot, a wise official, about to be separated from his homeland due to the brutal invasion of the Minh forces. He shares his concerns with his filial son, explaining the nation's tragic situation and the cyclical rise and fall of dynasties.

The poem also speaks of the atrocities committed by the enemy, causing suffering to innocent people, who, despite their personal losses, dream of a future full of responsibility towards their homeland, continuing the father's legacy to expel the invaders and liberate the country.

The poem can be divided into three clear sections. Part 1 (the first 8 lines) explores the father's emotional state as he prepares to leave his homeland. Part 2 (the next 20 lines) vividly describes the father's situation in a time of national despair. Part 3 (the remaining lines) offers the father's final advice to his son, urging him to uphold the values of loyalty to the country. The poem's title, 'Hai chữ nước nhà', immediately sets the tone, emphasizing the close connection between 'nation' and 'home' in the historical context of the character's time — a time of suffering under feudal rule, with the enemy openly seizing the nation.

The love for family should transcend into love for the country, and the wrongs against the family can only be resolved once the wrongs against the country are addressed. Thus, the patriotic Nguyễn Phi Khanh helps his son understand that personal love for parents must be intertwined with a profound love for the homeland.

One cannot stop thinking about the poignant image of the father and son parting with no promise of reunion. The border region becomes a sorrowful place, marking the departure of countless patriots who can only bid farewell to their homeland in silence, bearing the pain of a patriot whose emotions are repressed, passing on valuable beliefs to his son during their brief final encounter, expressed clearly in the short but powerful verses at the beginning.

The northern border is clouded with sorrow,

The southern skies are filled with desolate winds.

All around, tigers roar and birds call,

Glancing at the scenery stirs unrest.

Through these lines, we see not just a sincere conversation between two close men, but words that seem to carry the weight of a sacred farewell, filled with anger towards the invaders and a helpless lament that the son must remember forever.

Despite his longing to follow his father and repay the paternal love, the exemplary father, full of noble character, suppresses his personal feelings. He carries the sacred duty to the nation and places the unfinished task on his son's shoulders as a final plea.

The blood of the people nourishes the soul of the nation,

The weary body steps forward with determination,

Looking at the son, tears fall like pearls,

My son, remember the words of your father:

The first part of the poem opens up the profound emotions in the second part, revealing the father's devotion to the country amidst the harsh realities of a nation still enslaved by foreign invaders. The poem highlights the indomitable spirit of the people, the national pride that has persisted through generations, and the father's guidance on maintaining this pride.

Like the Hong Lac people, ordained by Heaven,

For thousands of years, the cycles of rise and fall,

In the South, a realm of its own,

Heroes, both men and women, have always thrived!

With pride, the father speaks of the historical legacy of the nation, how the 'Hong Lac people' have ruled over their land, as determined by Heaven. He passionately explains the inevitable rise and fall of dynasties, but in every age, there are great heroes who achieve remarkable victories for the nation, and even women, once thought weak, now stand as 'female heroes' saving the nation.

The poem then expresses the father's sorrow and frustration over the crimes committed by the invading Minh forces, who took advantage of every opportunity to seize the country, bringing great suffering to innocent people.

The fate of the nation has shifted,

Allowing the Minh forces to invade,

From all sides, smoke and fire rise,

Countless disasters, the blood of the land!

The poet skillfully uses the chosen form of the poem to convey deep emotions, effectively capturing the anger, frustration, and sorrow through the use of vigorous and sorrowful verses.

The more we speak, the more painful it becomes. Considering the circumstances of the time, the father, though a man of wisdom and heroic spirit, can only lament the helplessness of his situation. Yet, he prioritizes the country over personal feelings, urging his son to carry on the sacred duty of the nation. Nguyễn Trãi, a learned man of emotion, deeply engraved these thoughts into his heart, passing them down to future generations as a guide for continuing the work for the nation's cause.

The father laments his old age and weakness,

Unable to change his fate, he submits to it,

His body frail, trudging through the mud,

But the nation's future rests on his son's shoulders.

The poet immerses himself in the emotions of the character, taking pride in the glorious, unforgettable historical achievements of the nation.

My son, remember the ancestors,

Who once toiled for the nation,

The borders of North and South,

The flag of independence still flies proudly...

These verses, steeped in love for the country, utilize traditional poetic forms, yet vividly portray the monumental significance of the era. The image of the flag of Đại Cồ Việt waving in the hearts of the people represents the enduring pride and patriotism for the sacred homeland.

This is a call to action for the son to fulfill his responsibilities without burden, driven by love for the nation, ready to follow the example of many heroes to ensure the country's independence and development.

The third stanza carries a deep message: always be yourself, a man of knowledge and integrity, living with the 'ambition of a man' — an ideal that remains valid for future generations. The father also urges the son to cultivate an eternal hatred for the invaders, always striving to protect the homeland, to never foolishly let the country fall into foreign hands.

Above all, the poet expresses unwavering faith in the younger generation and the future of the nation, believing that they can achieve great things for the nation's strength and continuity, ensuring that even if the ancestors fall, their sacrifice will never be in vain.

'Two Words of the Homeland' is one of the poet's finest works, skillfully using the voice of Nguyễn Phi Khanh to express the intense, heartfelt emotions in the face of separation from the homeland and the tragic reality of national loss, instilling an undying love for the country in the younger generation, ensuring the nation's eternal vitality.

This poem can be seen as a patriotic call to arms, similar to the revolutionary poems of the New Poetry movement today.

"Hai chữ nước nhà" is the opening poem of the collection "Bút quan hoài I" by Trần Tuấn Khải, written in 1926. The poem addresses the historical period of Vietnam's invasion by the Ming dynasty (15th century). The father and son duo of Nguyễn Trãi were defeated during this invasion. Nguyễn Phi Khanh was captured by the invaders and taken to China, while Nguyễn Trãi, who wanted to follow his father, was urged by Nguyễn Phi Khanh to return home, in order to seek revenge for his father and for the nation.

The author of the poem borrowed the words of the father’s advice to his son to craft a work deeply imbued with patriotism and the desire for national independence. The excerpt "Hai chữ nước nhà" consists of 36 lines, written by Trần Tuấn Khải in 1926 and published in the collection "Bút quan hoài I". The poem reflects on historical themes and national heroes, which Trần Tuấn Khải documented to inspire patriotism, express the shame of those who have lost their country, and highlight the author’s hope for independence and freedom.

In the preface of the poem, the author clarifies that his inspiration came from the words Nguyễn Phi Khanh gave to Nguyễn Trãi when he was captured by the Ming army and taken to China. From this detail, it is clear that "Hai chữ nước nhà" is a poem that uses historical events to express the author's patriotic spirit.

The beginning of the poem evokes the sorrowful state of the nation under the Ming invasion. Vivid and emotional personifications such as "mây sầu ảm đạm" (clouds full of sorrow) and "gió thảm đìu hiu" (lonely, mournful wind) convey the suffering of the country under Ming domination. The landscape of Vietnam is also described as carrying the pain of its people, with vast spaces from the northern border to the southern skies, and throughout the four corners of the earth soaked in the blood and tears of the Vietnamese people:

Chốn ải Bắc mây sầu ảm đạm,

Cõi giời Nam gió thảm đìu hiu,…

Chút thân tàn lần bước dặm khơi,

Trông con tầm tã châu rơi

Amid the country's invasion, the father, on his way into exile, is still burdened with unspoken grief. The words in this section express the deep bitterness of a defeated hero—one who is experiencing a tragic fate. The lines resonate with longing, blending sorrow and love: "Son, remember my advice." Before departing, the father can only impart his innermost feelings and entrust the monumental task to his son:

Giống Hồng Lạc hoàng tiên đã định,

Mấy ngàn năm suy thịnh đổi thay

Giời Nam riêng một cõi này,

Anh hùng hiệp nữ xưa nay kém gì!

The line "Anh hùng hiệp nữ xưa nay kém gì!" serves as a reminder for the son to uphold national pride and continue the legacy of those who sacrificed for the country's independence. These verses carry a strong sense of defiance when the father speaks of the unimaginable atrocities of the invaders:

Bốn phương khói lửa bừng bừng,

Xiết bao thảm họa xương rừng máu sông!

Images such as "khói lửa bừng bừng" (fierce smoke and flames), "xương rừng máu sông" (bones of forests and blood of rivers), and "thành tung quách vỡ" (broken cities and walls) are symbolic, yet their emotional impact is profound as they evoke the shame of losing the country and the deep hatred of the invaders. As the father witnesses the desolation of the country, his sorrow grows stronger. The greater his concern for the nation’s fate, the more overwhelming the pain becomes. The heart-wrenching cry, coupled with a rhetorical question, rises with palpable sorrow:

Con ơi! càng nói càng đau,

Lấy ai tế độ đàn sau đó mà?

The verses are filled with tears, a lament, and a sob. Here, it is no longer just a father’s advice to his son, but the voice of an entire nation. The final lines of the poem express not only the father’s tragedy—old age, weakness, and helplessness—but also his trust in his son to avenge the family and bear the burden of national debts: "Giang sơn gánh vác sau này cậy con." The heartfelt message to the son, "for the nation, remember the ancestors" becomes an urgent directive amidst the nation’s heartbreaking circumstances.

Con nên nhớ tổ tông khi trước

Đã từng phen vì nước gian lao,

Bắc Nam bờ cõi phân mao

Ngọn cờ độc lập máu đào còn đây…

"Hai chữ nước nhà" is a moving and poignant poem. It captures, in a succinct form, the pain of losing the country while also galvanizing the Vietnamese people’s patriotic spirit and elevating the hope for independence and freedom for the entire nation. "Hai chữ nước nhà" transcends the conversation between father and son—it becomes the voice of the homeland, of the Vietnamese nation, calling for the overthrow of the colonial oppression imposed by the French empire.

During the first three decades of the 20th century, Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải was a prominent figure in the Vietnamese literary world, leaving a deep and lasting impact. His poetry resonated with the sorrow and patriotism of the people (Xuân Diệu).

As a public and legal voice of patriotism, the theme of national love in his poetry often took on a unique form, allowing it to bypass the strict censorship of the colonial government. By borrowing historical themes, he skillfully conveyed his deep feelings of patriotism, and one of his most representative poems is 'Hai chữ nước nhà'.

'Hai chữ nước nhà' is the opening poem in the 1924 collection 'Bút quan hoài I'. The poem reflects on the historical period of the Ming invasion of Vietnam. The poet uses the words of Nguyễn Phi Khanh, the father of Nguyễn Trãi, to express his own patriotic sentiments. The poem begins with a farewell filled with blood and tears:

Chốn ải Bắc mây sầu ảm đạm,
Cõi giời Nam gió thảm đìu hiu,
Bốn bề hổ thét chim kêu,
Đoái nom phong cảnh như khêu bất bình.
Hạt máu nóng thấm quanh hồn nước.
Chút thân tàn lần bước dặm khơi,
Trông con tầm tã châu rơi,
Con ơi, con nhớ lấy lời cha khuyên.

The poet carefully chose a special setting for the farewell of the two father and son. The desolate and gloomy Bắc Ai serves as a poignant backdrop. The Bắc Ai is a significant location, and for Nguyễn Phi Khanh, it is the final point where he will part ways with his homeland forever:

Chốn ải Bắc mây sầu ảm đạm,
Cõi giời Nam gió thảm đìu hiu,
Bốn bề hổ thét chim kêu,
Đoái nom phong cảnh như khêu bất bình

The sorrowful and desolate landscape intensifies the sadness, transforming it into blood and tears of parting:

Hạt máu nóng thấm quanh hồn nước,
Chút thân tàn lần bước dặm khơi.
Trông con tầm tã châu rơi,
Con ơi, con nhớ lấy lời cha khuyên.

The loss of the country and the destruction of the family turn father and son into exiles. Moreover, Nguyễn Phi Khanh’s situation is that of a prisoner in exile. The image of the old father, frail and trudging to a place of exile, deeply pains his son. Nguyễn Trãi wishes to follow his father and fulfill his filial duty.

However, the burden of national revenge and family honor is too heavy for Nguyễn Phi Khanh to allow his son to focus solely on filial piety. The father’s grief over the loss of the nation weighs heavily on his soul like the hot blood soaking the country’s soul, making it impossible for him to think of personal matters. With tears of farewell, the father urges his son to return and seek ways to avenge the country. The sorrow of a country lost, a family torn apart, is heart-wrenching. Above this pain is a profound love for the homeland and the nation, stirring deep emotions in the reader.

In this moment of father and son parting, the father’s advice becomes a sacred and emotional farewell. The father’s words, filled with blood and tears, reflect the tragic state of the country:

Bốn phương khói lửa bừng bừng,
Xiết bao thảm họa xương rừng máu sông!
Nơi đô thị thành tung quách vỡ,
Chốn nhân gian bỏ vợ lìa con,
Làm cho xiêu tán hao mòn

The disaster is closely tied to the crimes of the enemy, the ruthless invaders: 'What can be more alien than those who show no mercy?' The catastrophe of the nation and the cruelty of the enemy drive the father to unbearable grief and hatred:

Thảm vong quốc kể sao xiết kể,
Trông cơ đồ nhường xé tâm can,
Ngậm ngùi đất khốc giời than,
Thương tâm nòi giống lầm than nỗi này!
Khói Nùng Lĩnh như xây khôi uất,
Sông Hồng Giang nhường vật cơn sầu,
Con ơi! Càng nói càng đau,
Lấy ai tế độ đàn sau đó mà?

Rising above the personal fate is the fate of the nation, the fate of an entire country. Therefore, Nguyễn Phi Khanh’s pain becomes a grand and noble pain, a pain that echoes through the land and the heavens: 'The land cries, the sky laments.' Placing this poem in the historical context of the early 20th century, we can see that the Vietnamese people at that time were also living as exiles, enduring suffering and hardship. The sorrow of a lost country in the past becomes the collective sorrow of the Vietnamese people in the early 20th century. The words of Trần Tuấn Khải deeply touched the hearts of the Vietnamese people, especially the youth of that time.

Returning to the father’s advice and Nguyễn Phi Khanh’s lament, we find that in his heartbreaking sobs for the country’s tragic fate, there is also the bittersweet sorrow of a man who feels responsible for his country and people:

Cha xót phận tuổi già sức yếu
Lỡ sa cơ đành chịu bó tay

This is why the father fervently wishes that his son will avenge the country, fulfill the national revenge, and relieve the father’s burden:

Giang sơn gánh vác sau này cậy con.
Perhaps, these are the last heartfelt words of the father!

The more we read the poem, the deeper we are moved by the father’s powerful patriotism, which is also the poet’s powerful patriotism. We understand why the poetry of Trần Tuấn Khải was so warmly welcomed by the public, especially the youth of that time.

Trần Tuấn Khải (Chinese characters: 陳峻塏; November 4, 1895 – March 7, 1983) was a renowned Vietnamese poet, famous from the pre-revolutionary era. His pen names included Á Nam, Đông Minh, Đông Á Thị, Tiểu Hoa Nhân, Lâm Tuyền Khách, Giang Hồ Khách, and Lôi Hoàng Cư Sĩ.

Trần Tuấn Khải was a patriotic poet. He often used historical themes or artistic symbols to express the pain of losing the country, the hatred towards the enemy, and to encourage the patriotic spirit of the people, reflecting his deep longing for independence and freedom.

The poem "Two Words for the Homeland" by Trần Tuấn Khải is a prominent work in modern Vietnamese literature. It is a poem that deeply expresses patriotism and strong emotions towards the homeland, while also reflecting the author's thoughts and reflections on the fate of the nation.

Context of Creation: "Two Words for the Homeland" is the first poem in Trần Tuấn Khải's collection of poems titled Bút Quan Hoài.

Structure:

• Part 1 (first 8 lines): The father's emotions in the face of separation
• Part 2 (next 20 lines): The painful reality of the country and the feelings of the person leaving
• Part 3 (last 8 lines): The father's message entrusting the duty of saving the country to his son

Content Value: Through the excerpt from "Two Words for the Homeland", the author uses a highly evocative historical story to express his intense feelings for the country and to inspire patriotism in the people.

Artistic Value: The poem successfully utilizes the traditional form of sonnet couplets. The tone is heartfelt and emotionally powerful, with a strong evocative quality.

1. Introduction

• Brief introduction to Trần Tuấn Khải: A poet whose literary career is primarily focused on poetry, using his verses to express profound and broad emotions such as love for his homeland and country.
• Introduction to the poem "Two Words for the Homeland": Through the story of Nguyễn Trãi and his son, the poet seeks to reignite the passionate spirit of patriotism in every person.

2. Body of the Essay

a. General Overview

• Theme and context of creation: The poem is inspired by a historical story (about Nguyễn Trãi and his son) to talk about love for the country.
• Location of the excerpt: The poem consists of 101 lines. The excerpt includes the first 36 lines.
• Poetic form: Song thất lục bát.
• Structure: The poem is divided into 3 parts.

b. Content

* The father's emotions as he has to say goodbye to his son

• Symbolic language: “clouds of sorrow”, “desolate winds”, “tiger roars, bird calls” → These images evoke the sense of a farewell at the country's border, at the edge of the homeland.

→ The painful and difficult situation: The father is taken away to China with no hope of returning - the country lost, the family shattered, father and son separated.

• Images: “hot blood”, “soul of the country”, “tears falling”: Extreme pain, immense sorrow.
• The father advises his son to return and seek revenge for the country and repay the family’s debt.

→ The advice becomes a final message, sacred and moving, carrying an emotional power that leaves a deep impact on the reader.

* The nation's condition and the feelings of the person leaving

• Symbolic imagery: “four directions of fire and blood”, “bones and blood of rivers and mountains”, “the city walls crumbling, wives and children abandoned” → Depicts the country in ruins, filled with sorrow, telling of the foreign invaders’ crimes.
• Symbolic images: a voice full of sorrow, deep sadness → Describes the internal anguish, lamenting, crying with grief, and the overwhelming sadness that intensifies with every word spoken.

→ A heart-wrenching pain. The sorrow of a lost country and shattered home becomes a sacred and noble suffering, transcending personal fate to become a grief for the nation that shakes the heavens and earth.

→ This represents not only the emotions of the people of Đại Việt in the 15th century but also the sentiments of the author and the Vietnamese people in the early 20th century.

* The final words of the father to his son

• Father’s image: “weak body”, “old age”, “fallen”, “helpless” → Encouraging his son to take up the responsibility of the nation in the future.
• Emphasizing the immense, sacred responsibility of carrying the fate of the country.
• The father fully believes in his son’s ability to avenge the family and the nation → The spirit, will, and patriotism of the father.

3. Conclusion

• Summarizing the content and artistic value that make the poem successful.
• Relating the poet's expression of love for the homeland to the personal feelings of the reader.

Trần Tuấn Khải often draws on historical events to express his deep love for the country and the sorrow of losing it, awakening the spirit of patriotism among the people. In the early 20th century, he was one of the most prominent poets known for his tragic and solemn tone. "Two Words for the Homeland" is one of his most significant works.

Written in the form of a song-thất-lục-bát (a traditional Vietnamese poetic form), the poem "Two Words for the Homeland" leaves a profound and lasting impression on readers. "The social mood around 1926 was one of bitterness, tragedy, and the soft rhythm of the Lục Bát was not enough; it demanded the cadence of Song Thất Lục Bát to capture and release the heavy emotions" (Xuân Diệu).

The poignant farewell between Nguyễn Phi Khanh and Nguyễn Trãi in the context of a lost country and ruined homeland in the poem creates powerful moments that deeply resonate. Trần Tuấn Khải uses these moments to convey his own feelings of sorrow and loss. The father's parting words to his son are laden with love and sorrow, filled with tragic beauty. The emotional tone shifts from intense, suffocating grief to a profound, aching longing. The poet truly succeeded in using the rich rhythm of the Song Thất Lục Bát to convey these emotions.

The structure of the excerpt from "Two Words for the Homeland" can be broken down into three parts. Part 1 (the first 8 lines): expresses the father's sorrowful mood in the painful situation; Part 2 (the next 20 lines): depicts the tragic and sorrowful state of the nation; Part 3 (the final 8 lines): conveys the father's desperate and powerless plea to his son to save the nation. Each part unfolds with an emotional intensity that enhances the poem's depth and sincerity.

In the first 8 lines, the poet sets a bleak, desolate borderland as the backdrop for the character’s emotions. The first four lines describe the parting scene:

The northern border, the clouds heavy with sorrow,

The southern sky, winds mournfully still.

All around, the roars of tigers and cries of birds,

Gazing upon the scenery, it stirs a sense of injustice.

In this departure, with no hope of return, the borderland is where Nguyễn Phi Khanh bids farewell to the homeland, to his beloved son. The mood of the departing figure casts a shadow of grief and desolation over the already bleak landscape. The sorrow of both the person and the scenery intertwines, creating a long-lasting, aching sorrow.

This stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, reflecting the mood of the time (the era of Nguyễn Phi Khanh and Nguyễn Trãi) as well as the atmosphere of Vietnam in the early 20th century. The next four lines are filled with tears:

The warm blood, soaking the soul of the nation,

The frail body, stepping through distant roads,

Looking at my child, tears falling like pearls,

My child, remember what I say to you.

At this moment, the father must leave without ever returning. The country is in misery, and father and son are separated. The love for the homeland mingles with the deep fatherly affection as Nguyễn Phi Khanh is taken to China. In order to fulfill his filial duty, Nguyễn Trãi wishes to accompany him, but Phi Khanh suppresses his personal desires and urges his son to return to avenge the family and serve the country. Such parting words, spoken by one who is about to leave forever, carry deep emotions that must be etched into the heart of the one left behind.

The father's love for the homeland is deeply moving. In the following lines of Part 2, the poet inhabits the role of one who has suffered separation, depicting the nation in its agonizing state of slavery. The poet uses both narrative and descriptive elements, interspersed with exclamations, to highlight the pain of losing the country, the homeland drowned in the disaster of "bones in the forest, blood in the river"; the anger and sorrow rising to the heavens:

The tragic fall of the nation, words cannot express,

Looking at the collapse, it tears the heart apart,

Grieving the earth crying, the heavens lamenting,

Pitying the nation in sorrow and despair!

The pain here transcends personal suffering, becoming the sacred, collective sorrow of the entire nation. This monumental sorrow is expressed through grand imagery: the fall of the nation, the loss of the kingdom, the earth crying, the heavens lamenting, and the suffering of the people. The intense emotional flow is conveyed through words full of strong, tragic feelings: inexpressible sorrow, heart-wrenching anguish, grieving, mourning, and deeply sorrowful sympathy.

Each line of the poem is a desperate cry, full of anger, bitterness, and sorrow. There are not enough tears to mourn the suffering that is engulfing the country, and the father urges his son with heartfelt words:

Father laments his old age, weak health,

Fate has abandoned me, I must accept it,

My body, so frail, does not fear the mud,

But the nation's future is entrusted to you, my son.

Remember our ancestors of old,

Who sacrificed for the country before us.

North and South, the borders are divided,

The flag of independence still flies, stained with blood...

The father, feeling powerless, entrusts everything to his son. Though frail and old, facing the imminent danger, he can do nothing but express his regret and sorrow. By evoking the proud tradition of the ancestors, the father hopes to ignite in his son a fiery hatred for invaders, a determined will to restore the country, and to place his full trust and hope in him before he departs forever. His words are as heavy as a mountain. The loss of the country means the loss of the family, and the only way to avenge the family is to restore the nation.

The use of history to express the present, the borrowing of others' experiences to convey one's own, is a long-standing literary technique. Trần Tuấn Khải succeeded brilliantly in using the story of the separation between Nguyễn Phi Khanh and Nguyễn Trãi to express the sorrow of losing the country and to awaken the spirit of patriotism when the nation was being trampled by colonial invaders.

With deep, intense emotions and a tone full of lamentation, the poet of "Two Words for the Homeland" fulfilled the noble mission of a patriotic artist. His poetry inspires and motivates people to fight for an independent, free nation.

Author: Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải (1895 - 1983), pen name Á Nam, born in Quang Xán village, Mĩ Hà commune, Mĩ Lộc district, Nam Định province. Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải often used historical stories to express his patriotic feelings, the sorrow of losing his homeland, and awaken the spirit of his people.

One of the most prominent and memorable poems by the author is "Two Words for the Homeland". This work reflects the patriotic spirit of the Vietnamese people at that time.

The poem "Two Words for the Homeland" is the opening work of the poetry collection Bút Quan Hoài I (published in 1924). It centers on the historical context of the Ming army's invasion of Vietnam. The poet uses the words of his father, Nguyễn Phi Khanh, who advises his son Nguyễn Trãi, to express his own heartache. This excerpt consists of 36 verses written in the traditional 'song thất lục bát' form.

This excerpt is from the poetry collection "Bút Quan Hoài", composed in 1926. To analyze the work, we can divide the poem into three sections. The first part: eight verses describe the sorrowful farewell at the border between Nguyễn Phi Khanh and his son Nguyễn Trãi.

The second part: the next 20 verses recount the father’s words about the Lạc Hồng lineage, the enduring history of the nation over millennia, and the suffering the country is enduring. The third part: eight verses contain the father's final words of advice, expressing his strong belief in the future of the nation.

The opening verses evoke the desolate scene of the father’s departure, creating an atmosphere that permeates the entire poem:

The northern border is shrouded in sorrowful clouds

The southern sky is filled with a mournful breeze

All around, the tigers roar and birds cry

Looking back at the landscape, it ignites a sense of injustice

The warm blood seeps into the soul of the nation

In my weakened state, I stagger onward

Looking at my child, tears falling like pearls

My child, remember your father’s advice:

At the beginning, the author paints a picture of the nation’s sorrow under foreign oppression. The skillful use of personification, such as "sorrowful clouds", "mournful winds", and "tigers roar, birds cry", reflects the pain of the land. The entire vast space from the northern to the southern borders, and across the seas, shares the same pain with the people here. Every verse seems filled with tears, and the tone of the poem is full of heartfelt sorrow: "The warm blood seeps into the soul of the nation / In my weakened state, I stagger onward / Looking at my child, tears falling like pearls".

The image of the father, frail and limping towards exile, deeply moves his son. The circumstances of Nguyễn Trãi and his father are truly tragic. The son wants to follow and care for his father, but the father, with great sorrow, advises his son to return and plan to avenge their family and repay the debt to the country.

The second part is a heartfelt message from Nguyễn Phi Khanh to Nguyễn Trãi. The reminder of "two words for the homeland" calls upon the deep roots of the Lạc Hồng lineage, the enduring history of the Vietnamese people, and the cherished land of the South. It also reminds them of the many heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. The father’s words are filled with pride and a call for national unity. The tone then shifts to express anger and frustration over the dire state of the country:

Alas, the fate of the nation in turmoil

The Ming army takes advantage of the situation to invade

From all directions, the fires of war rage

The country suffers from the horror of bloodshed and death!

The cities fall, the walls collapse

The common people are separated from their families

All hope is shattered, all strength exhausted

How can we continue to bear this suffering?

Grief over the nation’s ruin cannot be expressed

Looking at the homeland, my heart is torn apart

With tears, I mourn the earth and sky

My heart breaks for our people’s suffering!

The smoke of the mountains forms a suffocating mass

The waves of the river carry the burden of sorrow

My child! The more I speak, the greater the pain...

Who will save our people?

The author uses a blend of narration and vivid description, mixed with emotional exclamations, to highlight the agony of losing the homeland, engulfed in the disaster of "blood-stained rivers and forests". The people’s hearts burn with rage. The expressions and imagery—"fires of war raging", "blood-stained rivers and forests", "falling cities", "earth crying, sky lamenting"—though metaphorical, carry a powerful emotional impact. These words evoke the humiliation of losing the nation and the fierce hatred toward the invaders.

Additionally, the author uses highly evocative verbs and adjectives, such as "express grief beyond words", "torn apart", "heartbroken", "mournful" to convey the extent of the devastation. The final eight verses express the father’s final words before his departure:

Father laments his frailty and age,

Unable to help, resigned to fate,

Not caring for the mud beneath his feet,

Entrusting the responsibility of the nation to you, my child.

Remember your ancestors, who have endured much for the country,

They sacrificed for the nation’s cause.

The borders between the North and South stand divided,

But the flag of independence still waves strong...

Through these words, Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải conveys the deep love and patriotic fervor of the father, urging the son to carry on the fight for the nation’s future. The weight of the nation’s fate is entrusted to the next generation with full trust and hope.

Using historical references to speak of the present, and borrowing the voices of others to express one’s own feelings, is a long-established technique in literature. Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải succeeded in evoking deep emotions, portraying the father’s intense patriotism, which also mirrors the poet’s own love for the nation. As a result, his work continues to resonate with readers over time.

Trần Tuấn Khải (1895 - 1983), pen name Á Nam, was born in Quang Xán village, Mĩ Hà commune, Mĩ Lộc district, Nam Định province. As a progressive Confucian scholar, he often used historical topics or subtle artistic symbols to express his sorrow over the loss of the country, his anger toward foreign invaders and their henchmen, and his desire for independence and freedom, while also motivating and encouraging the patriotic spirit of the people.

Trần Tuấn Khải's poetry gained wide recognition in the early 20th century, with some of his most famous works including songs in the style of folk music, such as "Gánh nước đêm", "Anh đi anh nhớ", and "Hai chữ nước nhà", written in the form of lục bát and song thất lục bát verses.

"Hai chữ nước nhà" is the opening poem in the collection *Bút quan hoài I*, volume one, written in 1924. It draws on the historical theme of the Ming Dynasty's invasion of Vietnam, recounting the story of Nguyễn Phi Khanh, a talented court official, who was captured by the enemy and taken to China. Nguyễn Trãi, his son, intended to accompany his father to care for him but was advised by Nguyễn Phi Khanh at the northern border to return and plan to avenge their country and repay the debt to their homeland.

The excerpt in the textbook, which consists of 36 verses, is the first part of a longer 101-verse poem, recounting the poignant farewell between father and son Nguyễn Trãi, which is etched into the history of Vietnam's fight against foreign invaders. In their painful situation, Nguyễn Phi Khanh wipes away his tears and imparts invaluable advice to his son.

The rise and fall of a country is a natural part of history. A man must endure hardship, wait for the right time, and repay his debt to the country and avenge his family. The aging father, feeling powerless, places his full trust in his son, hoping that he will continue the mission of driving out foreign invaders and liberating the nation. The excerpt can be divided into three sections:

Part 1: From the beginning to the father's advice: The father's sorrowful state in a difficult situation;

Part 2: From there to "after that": The current state of the country in pain and mourning.

Part 3: The father's helplessness and his heartfelt advice to his son.

Why did the author choose "Hai chữ nước nhà" as the title of the poem? How does this title relate to the central theme of the poem? The concepts of "nation" and "home" are distinct, but in the specific context of Nguyễn Trãi and Nguyễn Phi Khanh (in the 15th century) and the situation of Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th century, these two concepts are closely connected. The loss of the country means the collapse of the family. The family's revenge can only be achieved once the national revenge is completed. Therefore, Nguyễn Phi Khanh reminds his son to treat the country as the home and replace filial piety with loyalty to the nation, thus fulfilling both duties.

The poem's emotional power comes from its patriotic content. The author successfully recreates the scene of the farewell and the sorrowful, restless emotions of Nguyễn Trãi and his father. It resonates deeply with the "string of national love" that touches the hearts of all people. (Xuân Diệu).

The advice given by Nguyễn Phi Khanh, set against the backdrop of a lost country and a broken home, can be viewed as a final message from a father to his son. The exclamations in the poem create a mournful, heartbreaking tone. The song thất lục bát form is ideal for expressing the sorrowful emotions of the characters.

The poem's theme is not merely nostalgic; it also conveys the author's anger and sorrow about the current state of the country. As a result, it deeply moved the people, especially intellectuals, youth, and patriotic students. The first lines of the poem depict the scene of the farewell:

The Northern border is clouded and gloomy,

The Southern sky is filled with desolation.

All around, the tigers roar and birds cry,

The landscape seems to kindle a sense of injustice.

The farewell between father and son takes place at the northern frontier, a desolate and remote place surrounded by mountains and forests, with deep clouds, sorrowful winds, howling tigers, and chirping birds... For Nguyễn Phi Khanh, who would never return, this is his final resting place before permanently leaving his homeland, family, and loved ones. The painful emotions of the exiled man cast a shadow of grief over the scenery, while the landscape itself seemed to amplify his sorrow and longing for the country.

The author's patriotism transforms conventional poetic imagery and cliched language into something vivid and moving. It is as if the author personally witnessed the heartbreaking farewell, empathizing with both the one leaving and the one staying, capturing the emotions of the characters and expressing them through poignant verses:

Warm blood soaks into the soul of the nation,

As my broken body steps towards the distant shore,

Looking at my son, tears fall like pearls,

My child, remember the father's words.

The Hồng Lạc lineage has been ordained by heaven,

Thousands of years of prosperity and decline.

The Southern land stands alone,

Heroes have always risen from here!

The situation of Nguyễn Trãi and Nguyễn Phi Khanh is tragic: the father is captured by the enemy and taken to China, with no hope of return; the son wants to follow to care for his aging father but is advised by the father to return and focus on the larger mission of avenging the country. For both father and son, the love for the nation and the family are both sacred and deep.

Amidst the loss of the country and the separation of the family, their pain intensifies. Nguyễn Phi Khanh shares his heartfelt advice with his son. First, he reminds his son of the noble ancestry of the Vietnamese people: *The Hồng Lạc lineage has been ordained by heaven*.

He then explains the natural historical cycle of rising and falling dynasties, but emphasizes that the heroic figures who have fought to protect the country are not few, especially in comparison to the northern historical figures. To protect the country, women have joined the fight for justice—how much more so for men?!

Nguyễn Phi Khanh places great importance on the concept of *Giang sơn* (land and country) to explain to his beloved son, Nguyễn Trãi, the weight of their mission. Given their situation, the father's words carry the weight of a final testament. These words are deeply emotional, sacred, and encourage his son to live up to the legacy of his ancestors.

The author takes on the persona of Nguyễn Phi Khanh, the exiled figure, whose heart is heavy with the worries of the nation's plight, condemning the invaders and describing the tragic situation of the country:

The fate of the country changes with time,

As the Ming army invades,

Everywhere there is smoke and fire,

Countless disasters, bones in the forest, blood in the river!

In the cities, the walls are shattered,

People abandon their wives and children,

Life is in ruin,

What sympathy remains for those who suffer?

These lines of poetry sharply focus on the national shame of the time. The French invaders were no different from the Ming forces of the past, causing immense suffering and devastation to the country. Amidst the bitter thoughts and sorrow, there are cries of lament, sadness:

The devastation of the lost country is too much to describe,

Looking at the ruins breaks my heart,

The land weeps, the sky mourns,

The people lament the tragic fate of our nation!

The strong, evocative verbs like *too much to describe*, *breaks my heart*, *weeps*, and *lament* illustrate the profound tragedy of the loss of the country. The most striking image is that of the land weeping and the sky mourning—truly capturing the sentiment of *"a heart full of sorrow, too much to explain,"* as stated by nationalist Phan Bội Châu.

The pain of Nguyễn Phi Khanh expressed in the poem transcends personal grief, becoming the collective sorrow of the nation. Every message to his son is a cry, a sob of anguish. The poem's sorrowful tone, a trademark of Trần Tuấn Khải's style, captures the heartache and despair of Nguyễn Phi Khanh, which resonates deeply with readers of the time.

In the final moments of their time together, Nguyễn Phi Khanh poses a great question to his son, a question that represents his unresolved worry and torment:

The smoke of Nùng Lĩnh rises like a heap of anger,

The Red River bears the weight of sorrow,

My child! The more I speak, the more it hurts,

Who will offer salvation in the future?

The author uses the imagery of the smoke of Nùng mountain and the waves of the Red River (also known as Nhị River) to represent the capital of Đại Việt, symbolizing his anger at the invaders. The vast legacy of his ancestors, which had been built for generations, is now in the hands of foreign invaders. How can future generations stand idly by and let this happen?

Nguyễn Phi Khanh laments his helplessness, as the poet's pen seems to be soaked with tears:

The father is heartbroken by old age and weakness,

Unable to fight back against fate,

His body shivers, no longer caring for the mire,

The country’s future now rests in his son's hands.

Son, remember the ancestors' struggles,

For the country’s sake, they endured great hardship.

The borders of North and South are now divided,

The banner of independence still flies high...

All of Nguyễn Phi Khanh's words are from the heart, a final message entrusted to his son. The burden of the nation now lies with the next generation, with the father's unwavering trust and hope in his son. The father's advice inspires and encourages his son to live up to the proud legacy of their ancestors, who fought countless times for the country.

"Hai chữ nước nhà" is a famous poem by Á Nam Trần Tuấn Khải. The author recreates the poignant farewell between Nguyễn Phi Khanh and Nguyễn Trãi, set against the backdrop of a lost country and shattered home, to express his own emotions while also inspiring the love and will to save the country among the people. The author's profound and intense patriotism has ensured that this poem continues to live on.

The poet Xuân Diệu aptly remarked: "Hai chữ nước nhà is considered the finest poem that encapsulates the patriotic motifs of Á Nam, from tragic grandeur to sarcastic tones, from hatred to scorn, from cursing traitors to the sorrowful embrace of the national homeland."