Top 6 Best Analytical Essays on 'New Sunshine' by Luu Trong Lu (Literature 10)

The bond of motherhood is arguably the most sacred relationship in life. A mother is the one who brings us into the world, loves us unconditionally, and cares for us throughout our lives. Perhaps because of this, motherhood has been an endless source of inspiration in literature and art. Among the countless works dedicated to mothers and the maternal love, one cannot ignore the poem 'New Sunshine' by poet Luu Trong Lu, excerpted from his collection 'Voices of Autumn.' The poem expresses the poet's deep longing for his late mother, a connection he can now only feel in dreams.

From the very beginning of the poem, the author dedicates it 'To the soul of my mother.' Indeed, the poet’s mother is no longer in this world, but the love for her remains, and the memories of her will stay with him for the rest of his life. The first stanza of the poem paints a scene of the 'new sunshine,' evoking the poet's old memories:

'Every time the new sunshine shines beside the window,

The rooster crows with a mournful cry at noon,

The heart grows heavy with memories of the past,

The mind stirs, bringing back the forgotten days.'

The 'new sunshine' refers to the gentle light of early spring, the kind that dispels the cold and dampness of winter. The sunlight shines through the window, and the mournful sound of the rooster’s crowing adds to the peaceful yet solitary atmosphere. This scene causes the poet’s heart to feel heavy, and he is transported back into his memories, where fleeting images of the past come alive.

As the poet revisits these old memories, his longing for his late mother intensifies:

'I remember my mother, in my childhood,

When she was still alive, and I was just ten;

Every time the new sunshine shines outside,

Her red dress fluttering as she hung clothes to dry.'

The poet directly expresses his longing with the words 'I remember my mother.' He recalls clearly that when his mother was alive and he was just ten years old, the sunlight would shine, and his mother would hang clothes on the fence. The warmth of the sunlight seemed to echo the happiness that both the poet and the countryside shared at that time. The image of his mother remains vivid in the poet’s mind, always present even though she has passed away.

'The image of my mother never fades away,

It is still etched in my mind, as she moved in and out;

Her smiling face was dark as it peeked from behind her sleeve

In the midday sunlight by the low fence.'

Throughout the poem, the poet never explicitly describes his mother, yet it is clear she was a kind and beautiful woman. The 'dark smile' suggests a gentle, fleeting smile, which the poet cherishes. Whether it was the soft spring sunshine or the scorching midday sun, in the poet’s memories, his mother always stood by the fence, performing the simple task of hanging clothes. This image represents warmth, comfort, and a sense of solace whenever he remembers his mother.

The poem 'New Sunshine' by Luu Trong Lu uses simple yet evocative language to express the poet's deep yearning and love for his late mother. Through this work, we also see the beauty of the traditional Vietnamese mother: gentle, nurturing, and always devoted to her family. The poem carries a meaningful message: 'For those who still have a mother, please don’t make her cry, don’t let sorrow fill her eyes.'

Indeed, the bond of motherhood is a sacred and noble love, for only parents love us unconditionally. A mother brings us into the world, loves us, nurtures us, and helps shape us into responsible individuals for society. This profound emotion has been captured in beautiful prose and poetry, and one of the most touching examples is the poem 'New Sunshine' from the collection 'Voices of Autumn' by poet Luu Trong Lu. The poem speaks of the poet's deep longing and overwhelming affection for his mother, a love that he can only express in dreams.

At the beginning of the poem, the author conveys his deep sorrow and tribute to his mother with the dedication 'To the soul of my mother.' Even though the poet’s mother is no longer alive, her love remains imprinted in his mind forever. The first stanza of the poem depicts a natural scene that holds the poet’s memories of his mother:

'Every time the new sunshine shines beside the window,

The rooster crows mournfully at noon,

The heart grows heavy with memories of the past,

The mind stirs, bringing back the forgotten days.'

The 'new sunshine' marks the arrival of spring, gently dispelling the cold winter, but it cannot erase the memories of the past. The sunlight shines through the window, accompanied by the rooster's mournful crow, creating a peaceful yet lonely atmosphere. This tranquility causes the poet’s heart to feel sorrowful as he is drawn back to the past, where fleeting memories of his mother resurface.

As the poet revisits these memories, his longing for his late mother grows stronger:

'I remember my mother, in my childhood,

When she was still alive, and I was just ten;

Every time the new sunshine shines outside,

Her red dress fluttering as she hung clothes to dry.'

In this part of the poem, the poet directly expresses his nostalgia, 'I remember my mother.' He vividly recalls that when he was a child of ten, his mother would hang clothes under the gentle sunlight. The sunlight brought a sense of peace and joy, mirroring the happiness the poet felt with his mother. The image of his mother becomes clearer in the second stanza. The poet affirms that the image of his mother 'has not faded away,' and she is still present in his memory as if she were beside him. He can still 'imagine' her moving around the house, tending to daily chores. Though the poet never directly describes his mother’s appearance, the 'dark smile' mentioned evokes an image of a beautiful, gentle woman. Perhaps it is this image, so simple yet powerful, that the poet clings to most—his mother standing by the fence, hanging clothes in the sunlight.

'New Sunshine' by Luu Trong Lu uses simple yet evocative language to express the child’s deep love for his mother. The poem celebrates the sacred bond of motherhood and honors the traditional Vietnamese woman who dedicates her life to her family.

“Travel the world, no one is better than a mother

The burdens of life, no one suffers like a father.

The vast ocean cannot contain a mother's love

The endless sky cannot embrace a father's heart.

A mother works tirelessly, raising her child well

A father protects with his fragile body, guiding the child through life

Anyone with a mother, don’t make her cry

Don’t let sorrow fill her eyes, hear me, child.

Tonight, I sleep soundly

Mother is the wind that blows through my life.”

The bond between mother and child is perhaps the most sacred relationship on earth. A mother gives birth to us, loves us, and cares for us unconditionally. Perhaps this is why maternal love has always been a recurring theme in literature and art. Among the countless works about mothers, the poem “New Sun” by poet Lưu Trọng Lư stands out. It reflects the longing for a mother and the deep affection of a child who can only meet her in dreams.

From the very first line, the poet dedicates the poem with the phrase “For the soul of my mother,” which tells us that his mother is no longer in this world. But the love for her remains strong, and the memories of her will stay with him throughout his life. The first stanza of the poem paints a picture of the “new sun,” evoking the poet’s nostalgic memories:

“Whenever the new sun shines through the window,

The rooster crows loudly at noon,

My heart is filled with sadness from the past,

Bringing to life forgotten days.”

The “new sun” refers to the gentle sunlight of spring, which warms and brightens the world after the cold, damp winter. This sunlight shines through the window, accompanied by the mournful crowing of the rooster at noon. Together, they create a peaceful yet lonely scene, making the poet feel a deep sadness and nostalgia for the past. His heart drifts back into the memories of earlier days, and these memories gently come alive again within him.

Returning to those old memories, the poet’s heart overflows with longing for his lost mother:

“I remember my mother when I was young

When she was alive, and I was ten;

Every time the new sun shone outside,

She would hang clothes on the fence to dry.”

The poet, Lưu Trọng Lư, expresses his longing for his mother directly, saying “I remember my mother when I was young.” He clearly recalls that when his mother was still alive, he was only ten years old. Every time the new sun came, his mother, in her familiar red dress, would bring the clothes out to hang on the fence, allowing her child to wear freshly sun-warmed clothes. The poet feels joy and happiness from the light of the new sun, which seems to echo the warmth of his mother’s presence. The image of his mother is still vivid in the poet’s mind, and he continues to recall her movements, her kindness, and her gentle smile. In all his memories, he sees her standing by the fence, completing the humble task of drying the clothes, which now serves as a cherished and comforting image in his heart.

The poem “New Sun” by Lưu Trọng Lư, with its simple words, beautifully evokes the poet’s deep longing for his mother. The poet’s mother is portrayed as a loving, gentle, and devoted woman, representing the traditional beauty of Vietnamese motherhood. The poem carries a meaningful message to all of us: “If you still have a mother, don’t make her cry, don’t let sadness fill her eyes, listen to me, child.”

"Mother, I am old now, yet I sit and cry like a child, remembering you.

Mother, I am old now, yet I foolishly reminisce about our old house.

In the past, my father would sit and drink, while my mother knitted clothes.

Outside, during winter, the ginkgo tree shed its leaves.

...

The ocean waves roared as I remembered you, the waves rising from afar.

The sky was filled with clouds as I wept for you, stars falling from the heavens.

Mother, the world is vast, but nothing is more vast than home.

Childhood is like a soft pillow, soft enough for old age to rest its face upon…"

These lines from the song 'Mother' by musician Trần Tiến perfectly capture the feelings of the poet Lưu Trọng Lư when composing his poem 'New Sun', from his collection 'Autumn Sounds'. The poem expresses a deep longing and an immense love for his mother. Of all themes in literature, the bond between mother and child is one of the most meaningful. After reading 'New Sun', I too felt the powerful emotions it evoked.

The poem begins by transporting the reader to a serene and dreamlike natural scene, enveloped in 'new sunlight':

"Each time the new sunlight shines through the window,

The rooster's cry fills the air, the melancholy breeze stirs,

My heart is heavy, lost in past times,

Faint memories of days long gone come rushing back."

The 'new sunlight' represents the soft rays of early spring, gently pushing away the chill and dampness left by winter. As the sunlight enters through the window, it creates a peaceful yet bittersweet atmosphere, accompanied by the rustling wind and the distant crow of a rooster. 'In every scene, sorrow follows, for who can enjoy the scenery when the heart is heavy?' The poet’s memories are intertwined with these peaceful yet sad moments, evoking a deep sense of empathy in me. Even though I don’t fully understand the specific memories that haunt the poet, I feel his sadness, as the poet’s words so expertly paint the image of a beautiful yet melancholic landscape that resonates with the heart.

Then, I visit the poet’s old memories, where I feel the profound love and longing he holds for his late mother:

"I remember my mother from my childhood,

When she was alive, I was just ten years old;

Whenever the new sunlight shone outside,

My mother would take out clothes to dry by the fence."

In this stanza, the poet directly expresses his longing for his mother: "I remember my mother from my childhood." It seems that his longing for his mother had been suppressed for a long time, and when he encountered the familiar scene of new sunlight, it unlocked the memories of his mother. When she was alive, his mother would wear a familiar red dress. When the sunlight came, she would hang clothes on the line for her children to wear freshly washed and fragrant clothes. The poet remembers that, during these moments, the sunlight would 'sing' outside, just as he felt pure happiness because his mother was by his side. The memory of his mother in these moments feels incredibly joyful. I can sense the deep comfort and happiness the poet felt when his mother was still alive. The poet’s love for his mother will last a lifetime, as he affirms, 'The image of my mother has not faded.' He can still picture her moving in and out, tending to the house. The most special detail about his mother is her 'dark smile,' not just a smile, but a distinct expression, which the poet describes as tender and gentle. The poet’s words convey a deep affection and admiration for his mother, showing that she was a caring and loving figure who devoted her life to nurturing her children.

The poem 'New Sun' by Lưu Trọng Lư left me with deep emotions. Through his words, I experienced his boundless love and longing for his mother, which made me reflect on my own responsibilities and deepen my love for my mother. I believe that anyone who reads this poem will feel the profound message about the sacred bond between mother and child that the poet conveys.