Top 6 Best Analytical Essays on the Poem 'Tự Tình I' by Hồ Xuân Hương (Vietnamese Literature 10)

Hồ Xuân Hương has written three poems titled 'Tự tình'. These poems belong to the genre of pure lyrical poetry, intense but without elements of mockery, lust, or vulgarity. After moments of teasing and sarcastic remarks, after the disruptive laughter, this passionate female poet returns to her own solitary heart. Even in the midst of these sorrowful, resentful lines, we can still recognize the talent and resilience of an extraordinary woman.

TỰ TÌNH (I)
The sound of a rooster crowing faintly above the bomb

Resentment spreads out across all the distant corners

The mournful bell does not ring, yet still sounds

The sorrowful bell tolls without reason

First, hearing the sounds grow more mournful

Later, angry at fate for leaving me in misery

Who are the scholars and poets? They fail

This body refuses to succumb to age and decay

The poem opens with a sound that echoes:

“The sound of the rooster crowing faintly above the bomb

Resentment spreads out across all the distant corners”

The author’s choice of the sound “om” (a final rhyme) is particularly unique. The sound “om” represents a shape, an echo that lingers in a dome (the sky, in Xuân Hương's view, is a dome) where the sound seems trapped, unable to escape, fitting perfectly with the suffocating and suppressed emotions of the lyrical figure. The artistic space here is also unique, holding many secrets. Where is the poet hearing the “faint crowing of a rooster above the bomb”? “Above the bomb” refers to where exactly? Many researchers have noted that the word “bomb” is not clear. The 'Literature 11' (Social Sciences section) annotation suggests that “bomb” refers to the back of a boat where fishermen often keep chickens locked in a coop. This implies there is a boat in the dark night, which is very possible, as many poems about the poetess's fate often include images of a boat. Even in 'Tự tình (III)', there is a boat: 'The boat of sorrow floats aimlessly'

Xuân Hương's fate is like a boat drifting in the dark. The rooster’s crowing at dawn awakens the sorrow so sharply that wherever the sound spreads, resentment follows. This is no longer the “resentment” of an individual but the universal suffering of unfortunate women in that era.

The rooster’s crow awakens the pain of a tragic life, and this sorrow permeates every sound of the fading day, regardless of whether it is a metallic or wooden sound:

“The mournful bell does not ring, yet still sounds

The sorrowful bell tolls without reason”

Xuân Hương’s skillful use of language is extraordinary. The bell becomes mournful, the temple bell becomes sorrowful. The poetess internalizes the sounds of the external world, making them feel like the voice of her own heart. The rooster's crowing awakens the deep pain, the fading day causing the inner turmoil, and the hard, dry sound of “cốc” echoes the sorrow of “om.” The combination of these external and inner sounds creates a profound and sorrowful harmony. However, if we listen carefully, we notice that this sorrowful harmony is amplified by sharp sounds (voice, resentment, mournful, reason…) and action verbs (crow, strike, toll). Thus, the sorrowful melody is bitter yet unyielding, a sadness filled with powerful waves. This heart’s cry seems to struggle against the harshness of life and the cruel fate of destiny.

Moving to the next two lines, the poetess directly expresses her inner turmoil:

“First, hearing the sounds grow more mournful

Later, angry at fate for leaving me in misery”

While not as striking as the previous lines, these lines still reveal the poetess’s true feelings, a sorrowful fate that is very human and distinctly feminine. The imagery and language are also quite skillful. The abstract concept of “fate” is transformed into something tangible – “left me in misery.” Despite the harshness of the rhyme, Hồ Xuân Hương still discovers meaningful, emotional imagery. Regarding the notion of “growing old” or “losing one’s chance,” nothing could better illustrate it than the image of “miserable decay,” as if a fruit had over-ripened and fallen apart. In reality, Hồ Xuân Hương’s romantic and marital life was fraught with hardship. She married late, and both of her husbands took secondary wives, and she was soon widowed.

Yet Xuân Hương refuses to “lower herself,” still reaching for ideals that resonate with her own soul, challenging and calling upon them:

“Who are the scholars and poets? They fail

This body refuses to succumb to age and decay”

The turn in the poem is truly surprising. Only Xuân Hương has the spiritual strength to rise up from such a profound sadness. She reaches toward the “scholars and poets” – not to elevate herself, but because she identifies with these intellectual and artistic figures. Xuân Hương only empathizes with “scholars and poets,” not because of her decaying state, but because she seeks a connection with something beautiful in herself. There is a longing in her cry, which only amplifies the desolate stillness of her heart, just as the rooster’s crow at dawn heightens the emptiness of the moment. Still, Hồ Xuân Hương reveals her inner strength, the strength of a woman fully aware of her worth, her right to live, and willing to challenge fate.

“This body refuses to succumb to age and decay”

The “om” rhyme is dark. For Hồ Xuân Hương, darkness symbolizes loneliness, desolation, widowhood, and aging. She resists this darkness with an intense spirit. Behind the dark “om” (decay) lies a smile, youthful, playful, and defiant against the cruel fate of life.

The three “Tự tình” poems by Hồ Xuân Hương are all wonderful, each in its own unique way. 'Tự tình (I)', within the constraints of the Đường-style poetry, manages to cleverly rhyme, yet the poetess still openly and warmly expresses sincere emotions. The poem is written in pure Vietnamese, without classical allusions, blending the external world and internal thoughts through images and melodies. The most profound impression of 'Tự tình (I)' is that it showcases the resilience of Hồ Xuân Hương, a talented woman with a fierce will to live, unwilling to submit to her difficult and harsh fate. The humanistic value of the poem is truly noble!

In the feudal era, the lowly status of women was a popular theme, often used as a source of inspiration for many works of art. The pursuit of love and happiness within a family has always been a central concern for women, both in the past and today.

This theme highlights the humanitarian spirit of artists and the literary world. Hồ Xuân Hương’s series of Tự Tình poems are prime examples that reflect the condition of women in ancient times.

In the serene, silent atmosphere of the night, the ticking of a drum signifies the passing of time. The lonely midnight hours evoke a profound sense of isolation. The heart of the young woman becomes even more sorrowful, waiting for something or someone.

The faint crowing of a rooster on the boat,

Resentment spreads across every village.

The mournful gong doesn't ring but sounds,

The sorrowful bell tolls for no reason, why is it so?

At first, the sounds only deepen the melancholy,

Then anger arises from the cruel fate that left her lonely.

Who are the scholars, the intellectuals?

This body will never accept growing old!

The more one waits, the more one feels disappointed. The sounds of the night grow louder and louder, symbolizing the increasing anxiety of the woman as she anxiously awaits. It represents the desperate hope of a woman waiting for her loved one.

Hồ Xuân Hương describes the melancholy of a woman who is a secondary wife, waiting for her husband’s return. The quiet night amplifies the sense of abandonment and loneliness, highlighting the woman’s place in society, her yearning for love and familial happiness.

In the following lines, Hồ Xuân Hương portrays the desperate wait of the wife for her husband. The lines are filled with metaphor, such as the wine cup representing a woman's attempt to drown her sorrow, reflecting the woman's desperation while enduring the life of a shared spouse.

In the late night, as the waning moon symbolizes the decline of the woman’s own happiness, her happiness is unfinished, much like the moon that will never reach its fullness. The first four lines reflect the woman’s weary, hopeless wait and her resignation.

The sorrowful bell tolls with a mindless rhythm, symbolizing the passing of time. Each moment makes the night more quiet, reinforcing the woman's sense of loneliness and emptiness.

Who are the scholars, the intellectuals?

This body will never accept growing old!

The pressures, the frustrations of the poet’s emotions burst forth, illustrating the poet's feelings of loneliness and despair. The sense of resignation and disbelief in the face of a hopeless fate is palpable.

This line conveys the sense of weariness and bitterness, capturing the essence of the passage of time and the poet’s diminishing youth, reputation, and vitality.

The closing lines of the poem express the private lament of a woman over her lowly fate, the unfulfilled love and happiness of women in ancient society, where such opportunities were often denied.

The poem speaks of the lamentable fate of women who had to share a husband with another, echoing the melancholy and disillusionment of women in the past who were subjected to the unfair practices of polygamy.

"Curse the fate of marrying a shared husband,

One who wraps themselves in warmth, while the other is left cold."

The poem artistically portrays the longing for an unfulfilled romantic life, with the woman in a constrained and disadvantaged position. The harsh reality is that women, despite their beauty, would often find themselves abandoned and lonely.

This poem expresses Hồ Xuân Hương’s deep empathy for the suffering of women who had to endure the injustice of polygamy in the feudal society. It reflects the social imbalance of "patriarchy" where women had little power to choose their own paths in life.

The poem conveys the tragic situation and fate of women, urging sympathy and understanding, and highlighting the yearning for true love. Women in the feudal system were often forced to depend on the whims of others, unable to make choices for themselves. This is a tragic circumstance that cannot be undone, and the poet’s tone resonates with both sorrow and defiance, showcasing her bold and free-spirited personality.

It is beyond dispute that poet Xuân Diệu has rightly honored the female poet Hồ Xuân Hương as the 'Queen of Nom poetry.' Among her most memorable works are pieces like 'Bánh trôi nước' and the series of three poems titled 'Tự tình.' The first poem in this series, in particular, has left a lasting impression on readers. It begins with lines such as:

'The distant crow of the rooster on the boat…

…

Who is this scholar or poet?

This body, still not ready to grow old!'

We can easily discern from the opening lines that the poet has conjured a vast, almost unfathomable space. The sounds travel from the boat on the river to every village and household. One can almost feel the restless women, unable to sleep during long, lonely nights. And then, we hear the rooster crowing faintly from a boat in the distance. In the stillness of the night, the rooster's crowing becomes even more pronounced, almost echoing in the quietude of the countryside. Hồ Xuân Hương masterfully uses sound (the crow of the rooster) to emphasize the stillness of the night, intensifying the feeling of resentment and sorrow that haunts the woman, who tosses and turns throughout the hours. It is as if this woman, listening attentively, hears the rooster crowing, signaling the passing of time. She gazes out into the vast, enveloping night. The night seems to trap her in a deep loneliness, as her sorrow and resentment grow.

'The distant crow of the rooster on the boat,

Resentment spreads across the darkened horizon.'

Notably, in the third and fourth lines, the poet uses the contrasting images of a 'tragic bell' and a 'sad gong.' These two sounds seem to respond to one another, creating a resonance that amplifies the deep grief and despair of a woman who finds herself at the mercy of love's misfortunes. It is clear that the woman has faced difficulties in love, and these verses are charged with the pain of rejection and unfulfilled desires. The poet’s use of negation emphasizes the striking presence of these sounds: 'The tragic gong, though silent, still sounds,' and 'The sad bell, though not struck, still rings.' The lonely figure of the poem is consumed by grief, lost in the stillness of the night. The poem speaks of the sharp, stinging pain that pierces the heart, cutting deeply into one's soul.

'The tragic gong sounds though no one strikes it,

The sad bell tolls, though there’s no reason for it.'

Those who love the poetry of Hồ Xuân Hương are also familiar with her more joyful works, such as 'Thân em vừa trắng lại vừa tròn' ('Bánh trôi nước'). This piece is full of vibrant, youthful imagery, and there are also works like 'Hai hàng chân ngọc duỗi song song' ('Đánh đu'), where the beauty of life is expressed in such vibrant lines. Yet, it is these somber verses in 'Tự tình' that truly reveal the poet’s mastery in portraying the sadness of solitude.

It is clear that the poem begins with a deep sense of loneliness, which is further explored through its later sections. The lines 'Before hearing the sound' and 'Afterward, feeling anger' create an almost seamless connection between the sounds and the fate of the woman. The poem moves from a melancholic mood to one of frustration and anger at the unfulfilled destiny. These 'sounds' seem to embody the voices of society or perhaps the lingering crow of the rooster. As the night progresses, the 'tragic bell' and 'sad gong' become louder, reflecting the increasing bitterness of the woman's emotions. In the stillness of the night, as the hours grow long, she experiences not just sadness, but also anger. The poem speaks of a heart that is continuously longing for love and has yet to find its peace.

Readers can also observe the unconventional ending of this poem, which challenges fate itself. Hồ Xuân Hương seems to be defiant in the face of her loneliness, as if challenging the cruel hand of destiny with verses that speak to her unwavering belief in her own strength:

'Who is this poet or scholar?

This body refuses to grow old!'

Through these verses, we see the poet's subtle defiance against the absurdity of life’s contradictions. It seems that Hồ Xuân Hương remains steadfast in her belief in her own abilities, confident that she can still change her fate.

In the end, 'Tự tình' is a poem that expresses a deep yearning for connection and the ability to voice the sorrow of isolation. It has resonated with many, especially women who share similar struggles. 'Tự tình' serves as a whispered conversation among women about the bitterness and harshness of life.

Poet Xuân Diệu honored female poet Hồ Xuân Hương as "The Queen of Nom Poetry." Hồ Xuân Hương left behind around 50 Nom poems, mainly in the seven-syllable four-line quatrain and eight-line regulated forms.

The "Self-reflection" collection includes three poems; here is the first:

"The rooster's distant crow echoes over the boat...

... The literary man dares not challenge her?

This body shall not accept growing old!

At the start of the poem, the first two lines create an expansive, vague space from the distant sound of a boat's horn, echoing through villages and rural areas. The woman is restless through the long hours of the night. The distant crowing of the rooster comes from the boat. As the long night passes, the rooster's crow is heard faintly, marking the change of the watch. The poet uses the sound (the rooster's crow) to contrast the silent, lonely night in the countryside, emphasizing the woman's feeling of "resentment" as she lies awake. She sits up, listening for the crow, then looks out into the vast, dark night. The darkness seems to envelop her, intensifying her loneliness and resentment:

"The rooster's distant crow echoes over the boat,

Resentment stretches out across the whole village."

In lines 3 and 4, the poet juxtaposes the haunting sounds of a "dismal drum" and a "sad bell," highlighting the overwhelming sorrow and despair of the speaker, who faces the late years of life and a troubled love life. The haunting rhythm and the use of negation to affirm the sounds of the "dismal drum" and "sad bell" emphasize the deep isolation and sorrow. The poet is enduring long, sleepless nights of solitude, grieving her loneliness and unfulfilled life. She is lonely like the "dismal drum" that nobody strikes, and sorrowful like the "sad bell" that makes no sound. The resentment, sorrow, and loneliness penetrate her heart, spreading through the village, growing in intensity as the long nights drag on. The word "om" evokes the sound of the sad bell, symbolizing immense sorrow and despair. The rhetorical question amplifies the sorrow, making the verse feel like a lament, a self-pitying sigh of sadness:

"The dismal drum strikes though no one beats it,

The sad bell rings, why is it silent?"

Back in her youth, Hồ Xuân Hương wrote vibrant and lively verses, like "My body is both white and round" (Rice Cake), and "My two feet stretch out like jade" (Swinging), but it is only now that we can understand the deep, poignant sorrow of her solitude expressed in the lines of this poem.

The lament in the first part deepens further in the discussion section, amplifying the sorrow and frustration of an unkind fate.

"First hear" in contrast to "then resent," "sound" correlates with "fate"; "sorrow" reflects the state of being "bitter." What are the sounds she hears? Are they the voices of the world? Or are they the distant crow of the rooster, the sound of the "sad bell," and the "dismal drum" echoing in her heart? In the middle of the night, the more she listens, the deeper the sorrow becomes. The longer she remains awake, the more frustrated and angry she grows about her hopeless love life. Her love life is compared to a fruit that is no longer fresh—"it no longer has the softness of youth" (Xuân Diệu) but has ripened and become "overripe," meaning it has rotted. Her "overripe fate" is an unfulfilled, late love life. The verse carries the weight of tears and sighs, lamenting both her personal fate and the path her love life has taken. Hồ Xuân Hương's poetry is a self-lament, a sorrowful reflection on her own plight, as well as the plight of other women who have reached an age where they are still alone and unfulfilled: "I shudder, and again I pity myself" (Truyện Kiều).

The conclusion brings an unexpected twist. It seems to challenge fate, to question the destiny that binds her. The poet is still "stubborn" in the face of her loneliness, insisting that "fate may change" even when it's already "ripe":

"Is there any scholar or poet who dares to accept?"

"This body will never accept growing old!"

The last two lines, filled with paradox, express the poet's continued faith in her abilities to challenge fate. She still hopes to find a worthy companion among the talented scholars and poets. In line 6, she writes: "After resenting fate, why does it turn sour?"; in line 8, she declares: "This body will never accept growing old!" The phrase "growing old" refers to becoming very old, shriveled, and withered. This is a "stubborn" way of speaking, showing the poet's strong attitude, defying the hardships of life. Reading the "Self-reflection" poems and exploring the poet's life reveals that love and happiness have never smiled upon Xuân Hương. The poem "Remembering the Past and Sending My Regards to the Great Scholar Nguyễn Du" (A Remembrance of the Past, Sent to the Great Scholar Nguyễn Du - Duke) shines a light on a personal love story of the "Queen of Nom Poetry," offering insight into her "Self-reflection" poem:

"The traveler feels countless pangs of longing,

Who can carry them for me?"

"The love I knew is now just a fleeting memory,

The dream was over before it began."

"The carts and horses bring joy, but fate is cruel,

The cosmetics are gone, leaving only a life of suffering."

"I wonder if there’s still a hint of dew left,

As the moon lingers over the lonely night."

The poem "Self-reflection" plays with the rhyme of "om" with sharp and skillful rhymes: "bom-chòm-om-mòm-tom." These challenging rhymes reflect the poet's mastery of technique while creating a melody and rhythm that tightens, compressing the "resentment," "hatred," and "stubbornness" of a very unique and strong character—very much in the style of Xuân Hương. Fate and the pursuit of love are themes that haunt every reader who engages with her poem "Self-reflection." "Self-reflection" is a lamentation of loneliness, a tragedy of love, and a profound yearning for happiness. This is why "Self-reflection" holds deep humanistic value.

Ho Xuan Huong is often referred to as the 'Queen of Nom Poetry,' one of the most talented female poets in the literature of Vietnam's Middle Ages. Her love life was tumultuous, experiencing two marriages but still remaining as a concubine. She was renowned for her beauty, intelligence, sharp wit, free-spirited nature, individuality, and extraordinary talent. She traveled extensively, socialized widely, and met many prominent people like Nguyen Du. She composed both Nom and Han scripts, both of which hold significant literary value. During the era of Vietnamese literature, she was a unique phenomenon, especially in writing about women with a tone that was both satirical and poetic, deeply rooted in folk literature. A recurring theme in her poetry is the sympathy for the plight of women, affirming and celebrating their beauty and their longing for happiness. One of her most remarkable poems is 'Self-Reflection I,' part of her 'Self-Reflection' series. The poem, written in the strict form of Tang Dynasty poetry, reflects her deep sorrow in solitude, enduring the pain of being a concubine, and yearning for happiness, transcending her circumstances.

The poem begins at the late hours of the night, a time when people often experience deep solitude, allowing one to confront their own reality. Ho Xuan Huong feels sorrowful as she contemplates her own fate:

The crowing of the rooster echoes from the bomb,

The bitterness spreads across the entire village.

The scene is one of quiet night, where the rooster's crow echoes from the boat's bomb, resonating throughout the village. The deeper the silence, the louder the rooster’s cry, which sounds almost agonizing. The author uses the technique of describing movement to convey stillness, with the rooster's crowing symbolizing the quiet, sorrowful night. In the dead of night, while others sleep, the female poet remains awake, contemplating her life. In the silence, the feeling of bitterness seems to engulf both the mind and the surrounding space. The bitterness keeps her awake, causing her to toss and turn through the long hours.

Her heart aches with bitterness and sorrow for her life as a concubine. As she gazes outward, the endless night deepens the sense of loneliness, as the rooster's crow echoes sharply, adding to the isolation.

The bell does not ring, yet it still tolls,

The sorrowful bell tolls without cause.

The loneliness and melancholy intensify in the third and fourth lines as the author evokes the imagery of the bell and its tolling. The bell’s sound without cause and the unbidden tolling of the gong represent the poet’s desolate and lonely life. The bell tolls despite no one striking it, much like her own life: lonely, misunderstood, and unfulfilled. The feeling of bitterness and sorrow extends throughout the village, pervading the space. The sounds of the sorrowful bell and the unstruck gong intensify the poet’s sense of grief. In this verse, the poet uses the technique of creating a scene driven by her emotions—her sorrow shapes the surrounding world, making everything seem equally sorrowful.

The rhetorical question 'Why does the sorrowful bell toll without cause?' adds to the lament, a voice of despair asking 'Why?'—a sigh of resignation and frustration.

First, she hears these sorrowful sounds growing louder,

Then, she becomes angry at her fate for leaving her in such a state.

Anyone familiar with Ho Xuan Huong’s life knows that she was a beautiful, intelligent, and sharp-witted woman. A woman of such talent and intellect should have had a happy life, with a fulfilling romantic relationship. But her fate was cruel, and she found herself enduring the role of a concubine, marked by a tragic life. In some of her poems, she subtly described her own image, such as in 'My body is both fair and round – A Floating Cake' or 'My two legs stretch straight like jade – Swinging.' Through these poetic hints, readers can grasp that she was once a beautiful woman, admired by many. Yet now, her life as a concubine brings her nothing but sorrow. Having been a concubine twice, how much more despair could she endure?

'Self-Reflection' is a self-revelation of her sorrow and her unfortunate fate. The sorrow she experiences echoes the melancholy sounds, those whispers of gossip and judgment from others about her life—perhaps the world's harsh words or the sorrowful tones of the rooster’s crow, the bell tolling, and the echoing gong in the quiet of the night. She becomes angry at her fate, knowing that her youth has passed, and love has slipped through her fingers.

The two lines express a deep sigh of resignation, a sorrowful reflection on her difficult love life. She yearns for happiness, yet it seems beyond her reach. She realizes that her youth has passed, and her love life is long over. With a sigh, she mourns her fate.

The poem serves as a moment of self-awareness, where she reflects on her own life, sympathizing with other women in similar situations. She acknowledges her own aging and the ongoing loneliness. 'Startled, I pity myself,' (Truyện Kiều) is echoed in her sentiment.

The lines above reflect self-blame, sorrow, and pity for her ill-fated life. But the last two lines seem to challenge the misery of her situation:

Who among the scholars and poets will save me?

My body is still not ready to age and wither!

These lines resonate with Ho Xuan Huong’s characteristic rebelliousness, personality, and strength. She refuses to succumb to fate, instead seeking to rise above her challenges and find love among the intellectuals and poets. She still desires happiness and refuses to be defeated by destiny. The line 'My body is still not ready to age and wither' clearly affirms her determination and defiance.

If the line 'Then, she becomes angry at her fate for leaving her in such a state' reveals her awakening to her age and lost love, the line 'My body is still not ready to age and wither' shows a shift in her thinking, rising above the challenges, her stubbornness, and courage. This reveals Ho Xuan Huong's indomitable spirit in the face of life's trials, a woman who, despite her troubled love life, never ceases to long for and search for happiness.

With the clever use of rhyme and sound: 'bom-chòm-om-mòm-tom,' along with the bitterness, anger, and rebelliousness, Ho Xuan Huong creates a melody, a rhythm, that reflects her fiery spirit. She is a distinctive figure in Middle Ages poetry, bold in expressing her innermost feelings, yearning for happiness. While poets like Nguyen Du and Dang Tran Con also defended women, their voices were not as passionate and intense as Ho Xuan Huong’s. Her voice truly represents the desires and struggles of women, for she, as a woman, understood the depth of this yearning and committed herself wholeheartedly to the happiness of women.

Hồ Xuân Hương is one of the most famous poets in Vietnam during the medieval period. Her works reflect a profound spirit of feminism, and the poem series "Tự Tình" (Self-Pity) is a perfect example. Here is her poem, "Tự Tình 1":

"The rooster's crow echoes from the boat

Resentment spreads across every neighborhood

The bell tolls mournfully without being struck

The sorrowful bell rings, though no one hits it

At first, I hear the sad sounds

Then, I get angry at the fate that led me to this

Which scholar or poet would accept me?

This body will never submit to growing old and withered."

First, let's analyze the title of the poem, "Tự Tình." It refers to emotions expressed outwardly, a confession from the heart, the voice of a soul longing for happiness, and the expression of frustration and sorrow.

The poem begins with two lines that set the scene and time, laying the foundation for the emotions expressed. Time is indicated by the line, "The rooster's crow echoes from the boat," with the distant sound of the crow symbolizing the passing of time. The crowing sound isn't just heard, but also felt as a passage of time.

The woman is awake throughout the long night, listening to the distant rooster crowing. As the night drags on, the crow's call becomes louder. The stillness of the rural night intensifies the feeling of loneliness and makes the woman's feelings of resentment stand out. This image of isolation becomes a poetic symbol for her sorrow, as her inner thoughts spill out quietly.

The poetic imagery here carries a soft undertone that evokes the listener's emotions when they hear the crow's call echo in the quiet night. The sound of the crow is not only a signal of dawn but also represents a battle and the inner loneliness of the person listening.

The rooster's crow echoes from the boat

Resentment spreads across every neighborhood.

Behind the rooster's crow lies a sorrowful, lonely mood. At this point, the person faces themselves. The crowing acts as a sharp sound that intensifies the poet's feeling of loneliness, prompting her to voice her frustration. The next two lines express this agony as the poet portrays a deep sorrow rooted in misfortune:

The bell tolls mournfully without being struck

The sorrowful bell rings, though no one hits it.

In these lines, the poet uses objective imagery to express her inner pain. The bell and the mournful sounds evoke a sense of loneliness and abandonment. The bell, though silent, carries the sadness of life. Its toll is muted, reflecting the poet's helplessness and sense of unfairness in life.

The first four lines make it clear that the poet is expressing frustration, sorrow, and despair. The next two lines clarify why she feels this way:

At first, I hear the sad sounds

Then, I get angry at the fate that led me to this.

The words "sad sounds" suggest a bitter, resentful emotion. The reference to fate in these lines implies that the poet's misfortune is due to forces beyond her control. She feels trapped by life's circumstances, but these six lines allow the reader to grasp the sense of frustration the poet feels. It may seem that Hồ Xuân Hương is unable to withstand life's hardships. But no, she remains defiant, challenging life with a proud stance.

Which scholar or poet would accept me?

This body will never submit to growing old and withered.

This is the true nature of Hồ Xuân Hương – a person who constantly fights against the injustices of life. She dares to love, to hate, and to face society's judgments. She is unafraid to confront life's unfairness and adversity.

Reading the poem, one feels the bitter sorrow of the poet's fate but also admires her unyielding spirit in the fight for the right to live a happy life. This poem, "Tự Tình," is a representative example of Hồ Xuân Hương's lyrical poetry.

Hồ Xuân Hương is a poet who endured much hardship in her love life, and therefore, she felt deeply angered by the treatment of women who suffered pain and humiliation. However, her unique style and individual personality stand out. Her poems about women are highly valued and respected.