Top 6 Artistic and Content Evaluations of the Poetic Stanzas in "Đất Nước" by Nguyễn Khoa Điềm

"The wives, missing their husbands, contributed to the nation with the Vọng Phu Mountain
The couple in love created the Trống Mái Hill
The hooves of Saint Gióng's horse left a hundred ponds and lakes behind
Ninety-nine elephants contributed their strength to establish the Hung Kings' ancestral land
The dragons, lying still, contributed to the deep green river
The poor student helped the nation with the Bút Mountain, Nghiên Mountain.
The frog and the rooster of the homeland contributed to making Ha Long a scenic spot
Every village and field, from the names of Ông Đốc, Ông Trang, Bà Đen, Bà Điểm
All carry the shape, the hopes, and the ways of our ancestors
Oh, the land of Vietnam, after four thousand years, wherever we go,
We find the lives that have transformed into our mountains and rivers..."

This stanza is rich with folk literature elements. It draws from myths and legends, utilizing the unique and vibrant folk material that creates a world both simple and sacred, grounded and ethereal. The free verse form, long lines, inductive structure, the artistic technique of enumeration, the narrative tone, as well as the beautiful, imaginative, and philosophical language, all contribute to the artistic excellence of this stanza.

Though dealing with a familiar theme, Nguyễn Khoa Điềm's poetry still brings fresh and profound insights. His novel perspective on the role of the people in shaping the nation's beauty, both geographically and culturally, evokes a deep sense of patriotism and responsibility in each reader.

"My dear, look far ahead
Into four thousand years of our land
Through every era, generations passed
From boys to girls, all our youth
Hard at work, building and toiling
When war came, the men fought the battle
The women stayed behind, raising crops and children
When the enemy came to our door, even women fought
Many became heroes
Heroes we all remember
Do you know how many boys and girls
In these four thousand years of generations like ours
Have lived and died
Simply and without fanfare
No names to remember
But they built this land
They kept it and passed on to us the seeds we sow
They shared their fire with every home
They taught us to speak with their voices
They carried the names of villages on their journeys
They built dams and fields for those who came after
When foreign invaders attacked, they resisted
When internal enemies rose, they fought them back"

The poem, with its simple and rustic imagery, conveys a tone of reflection and nostalgia… The author chose cultural references from folk songs to express emotions and thoughts. It clearly reveals the collective spirit of the people, encapsulating the nation's soul into its cultural heritage. In both broad and deep perspectives, it highlights the role of the people who not only created but also defended the land. Thus, "This land belongs to the people."

This excerpt is both a reflection and a message from the poet to everyone, urging us to acknowledge the vital role of the people in shaping the nation’s history and culture, with gratitude in our hearts for their sacrifices and contributions.

"For this land to truly be the Land of the People
This land belongs to the people, it belongs to the folk songs and legends
It teaches me to "love you from the cradle" To value the laborious work, even when it's tough
To plant bamboo, waiting for it to become a staff
To seek revenge without fear of time
Oh, the rivers that have flowed for so long
Yet when they reach our land, they bring forth songs
People sing while paddling boats, crossing waterfalls
Revealing a hundred colors, a hundred shapes of rivers flowing down."

This passage draws heavily from folk songs and traditional verses. What is particularly striking is that the poet doesn't directly quote the folk sayings, but rather extracts their essence, offering unique and profound reflections. The repeated capitalization of “Land” and its frequent mention, combined with the poetic tone that blends both political and lyrical elements, reveals deep thoughts and emotions about the land. It transforms the otherwise dry political message into something tender and resonant, speaking directly to the heart. This highlights the overarching theme that this land belongs to its people, both in spirit and culture.

"When we grew up, the Land was already here
The Land was there in the "once upon a time..." my mother used to tell
The Land began with the betel leaf that grandmother now eats
The Land grew when our people learned to plant bamboo to fight invaders
Mother's hair is twisted up on her head
Parents love each other with the bitterness of ginger and salt
The beams and pillars became their names
The rice had to be harvested through one sun and two dews, grinding, pounding, sifting
The Land has always been here..."

To write verses that truly move the soul, that transcend the decay of time and defy death (as Sukhof Sedirin said), the poet must possess both talent and passion, immersing themselves in life while constantly seeking new frontiers, “uncovering uncharted sources and creating what has never been created.” A foreign poet once deeply appreciated the high value of poetic labor:

“It costs a thousand tons of word ore
To extract just one word
That word makes a million hearts beat
Through countless years to come.”

The poet must “pay the price” for their language if they wish for their poetry to live forever. Artistic labor is the work of both the mind and the heart. It requires deep emotions toward life and unique creative discoveries for poetry to be genuine. Poet Nguyễn Khoa Điềm, with his passionate inspiration, dedication, and exceptional talent, creatively employed cultural and literary traditions, such as the use of fairy tale openings, idioms, folk stories, proverbs, and customs, to express his view of the nation, making it feel intimate and personal for every individual. The repetitive structures like “The land has been here...,” “The land is in...,” “The land begins...,” “The land grows...” help express the nation’s birth, existence, and growth, through time and in the collective consciousness of the people. Coupled with free verse, varying line lengths, simple and familiar language, flexible rhythms, and a mix of lyrical and political tones, his poetry is both captivating and emotional... These artistic traits have given Nguyễn Khoa Điềm's poetry its unique beauty, profoundly reflecting his fresh, insightful, and unique perceptions of the nation. The excerpt from "The Land" helps us love and connect more deeply with our homeland, and from this, we develop a stronger sense of responsibility for our nation.

"The land is where you went to school
The water is where you bathe
The Land and Water is where we meet
The Land and Water is where you lost your scarf in a secret longing
The land is where 'the phoenix bird flies back to the silver mountain'
The water is where 'the fish, the old fisherman, swim in the vast ocean'
Endless time
Vast space
The Land and Water is where our people reunite
The land is where Birds return
The water is where Dragons reside
Lạc Long Quân and Âu Cơ
Gave birth to our people in the eggs
Those who have passed
Those who are here
Love each other and have children
Caring for the legacy left by the ancestors
Reminding future generations of what’s to come
Every year wherever we eat or work
We still bow our heads to remember the anniversary of our Ancestors".

With free verse, irregular line lengths, flexible rhythms, a blend of prose and lyricism, and a combination of emotional depth with reflection, as well as repetition and structural parallelism, this excerpt offers unique and fresh perceptions of the nation. It paints the image of the country in a vivid and captivating manner, drawing the reader into a profound connection with the homeland and a deep sense of cultural identity. This poem inspires a sense of responsibility for our country.

"Today, in both you and me
There is a part of the Land and Water
When we hold hands
The Land and Water is harmoniously woven within us
When we hold hands with everyone
The nation becomes whole and vast
One day when our child grows up
They will carry the country far away
To the days of dreams
My dear, the Land and Water is our very blood
We must cherish and share it
We must embody the shape of our homeland
To make the Land and Water everlasting..."

With its free verse, varying line lengths, flexible rhythms, a blend of rhetoric and lyricism, emotional depth combined with reflection, and artistic techniques like repetition, parallel structures, progressive art, and a sweet-toned voice, this excerpt evokes deep feelings and creativity. The language and imagery show a poetic soul rich in contemplation, marking a unique poetic style filled with fresh discoveries. It stirs both awareness and emotions in the reader. This poem is not a dry lecture but a heartfelt message, speaking intimately and sincerely, easily reaching the heart. It awakens the youth of urban areas in South Vietnam, helping them understand their mission and responsibility toward the nation. The poem is also a brilliant expression of faith in the country's future and the bright future of the people, strongly highlighting the citizenship of the new era.