Top 8 Best Analytical Essays on Xuân Diệu's Poem 'This Autumn is Coming' (Grade 11 Literature)

"The autumn is chilly, the water is crystal clear,

A small fishing boat drifts by, empty and forlorn."

For a long time, the theme of autumn has been an endless source of inspiration for poets. While in the poem "Autumn Fishing" by Nguyễn Khuyến, the autumn of the northern rural plains is depicted in its simplicity and tranquility, Xuân Diệu, in his poem "This Autumn is Coming", brings forth a vibrant and striking picture of autumn, alongside the poet's deep and reflective emotions as the season arrives.

"This Autumn is Coming", published in 1938 as part of the collection "Poetry of Youth", stands as a typical example of pre-Revolutionary Vietnamese poetry. The poem presents the vast, ethereal landscape with a melancholic atmosphere, conveying the wistful longing of a young woman as autumn approaches.

The poem opens with a sense of sadness and desolation in the imagery:

"The willow trees stand alone, mourning,

Their sorrowful branches hang down, shedding endless tears."

The poet introduces the willow tree as the first image, using it as a symbol of autumn. The willow is described as "desolate", a reflection of loneliness, with the use of the word "rặng" (a row of willows) emphasizing the spreading sorrow. The willow is personified, as it "stands mourning", creating a quiet, sorrowful image, as if the tree itself is grieving. The image of "endless tears" evokes a sense of deep sadness, making readers wonder what has caused the willow to weep, and who has left it to mourn. The use of alliteration in "Buồn - buông - xuống" adds to the sense of sadness, with the slow, heavy rhythm enhancing the melancholy tone. Similarly, the repetition of "tang - ngàn - hàng" evokes the weight of sorrow and the gradual deepening of grief.

As autumn approaches, the poet expresses joy and anticipation:

"This autumn is coming, autumn is coming,

With its faded robe, weaving yellow leaves."

The repetition of "autumn is coming" expresses the poet's eagerness to welcome the season. The final image of the poem, with its light and pure tone, evokes the essence of autumn, marked by the golden color of the falling leaves. The rhythm in these lines, with a 4/3 syllable pattern, mirrors the gradual arrival of autumn and the poet's longing for its presence.

In the second stanza, the poet zooms in on the natural details, portraying a more vivid and detailed picture of autumn:

"More than one flower has shed its petals,

In the garden, the red hue overpowers the green."

At first glance, the phrase "more than one" might seem strange. It implies the presence of many flowers, more than just a single one. Xuân Diệu skillfully uses the verb "rũa" (to shed) to describe the flowers in the garden, blending the colors of red and green. The red hue signifies the arrival of autumn, while the words "shuddering" and "swaying" describe the trembling of dry branches in the gentle breeze. The repetition of the "r" sound enhances the sensation of cold and movement, allowing readers to feel the autumn chill in the air.

In the third stanza, the poet blends realism with symbolism in a creative and evocative way. The image of "the moon" is introduced, symbolizing both the season and a young woman in her prime:

"Occasionally, the moon gazes absentmindedly,

Far away, the mountains begin to fade under the mist."

The moon is personified, as the poet imagines it as a young girl deep in thought. The poet also introduces the image of the mountains, protected by a thin veil of mist, creating a sense of both reality and dream-like mystery.

In the final stanza, the poet captures the sensory experience of autumn, particularly the coldness and quietude that accompanies the season:

"The clouds swirl, birds fly away,

The air is heavy with sorrow, the pain of separation."

The poet uses vivid, dynamic imagery to convey the stillness of autumn. The image of birds flying away, along with the melancholy atmosphere of the sky, evokes a sense of loneliness and separation. The poet’s use of inversion in "the sorrow of a silent girl" expresses the deep sadness and solitude of a young woman, who gazes out at the vast, empty autumn landscape, contemplating the fleeting nature of the season.

With "This Autumn is Coming", Xuân Diệu masterfully conveys his acute sensitivity to the changing seasons, using both imagery and symbolism to evoke the beauty and melancholy of autumn. The poem not only portrays the natural world but also reflects the poet’s emotional connection to the passing of time, blending vibrant life with an underlying sadness, perfectly capturing the essence of autumn.

Xuan Dieu is considered one of the most modern poets of the new generation. His poetry is distinctively unique, with an innovative and creative use of language that captivates readers. Anyone who has pondered his work will never forget the author's yearning for life and his desire to merge with nature. His poem 'Here Comes the Autumn' was published in his collection 'Poetry'. This poem, written before the Revolution, still carries a sense of sadness and melancholy.

From the very title, 'Here Comes the Autumn,' readers can already sense the main theme of the poem. It is about autumn, but not the middle or late autumn. It is the moment when autumn is just arriving, as the earth bids farewell to summer and welcomes autumn. As the poet observes this transition, Xuan Dieu notices:

'The willow branches stand in sorrow,

Hair falling like endless tears;

Here comes the autumn – here it comes,

With pale robes weaving yellow leaves.'

The first image that strikes the poet when autumn arrives is the weeping willow. To an ordinary person, the willow might seem gentle and graceful, but to the poet, it symbolizes sorrow, as if mourning a loss or facing death. The falling branches and leaves are likened to tears streaming down, creating a scene of profound sadness. The image behind the willow evokes the picture of a grieving woman at a funeral. The reader is drawn into this melancholic mood. The repetition of 'autumn is here' emphasizes the gloominess of the newly arrived autumn with its pale and yellow leaves.

In this stanza, the poet uses personification, giving autumn human qualities: it can weep, feel sadness, and weave leaves. This allows us to feel the poet's sorrowful state of mind.

In the second stanza, the poet deepens the sense of desolation in autumn. Through his sensitive and melancholy eyes, autumn brings with it separation, as flowers fall one by one. The lush green of summer is replaced by the dominant red, pushing the green away to claim autumn's space. Furthermore, autumn ushers in a chilly wind, making the branches tremble not joyfully as in summer, but with fear and fragility. The trees are left bare, their dry limbs exposed, lacking vitality.

'More than one flower has dropped its branch,

The garden's red hue drives out the green;

Shivering winds shake the trembling leaves…

Dry, thin branches with fragile bones.'

Throughout this stanza, the poet uses color and vivid details to paint a picture of a desolate, withered autumn. It seems to reflect the despair and weariness of human emotions. The poet, and indeed many people before the August Revolution, felt drained of vitality, uncertain where to cling in the flow of time. The inversion of word order in each line emphasizes the changes in nature with the arrival of autumn, highlighting the sorrowful tone of the season.

While the previous lines depicted the changing natural world, in the next stanza, the poet shifts to the cyclical movement of both the universe and humankind. Here, instead of calling it the moon or moonlight, the poet refers to it as 'the moon maiden'. This phrase suggests the moon as a girl wistfully pondering the transformations of nature and time. The autumn moon is not as bright and defined as usual but seems to linger in contemplation or regret.

'Occasionally, the moon maiden lingers in thought…

The distant mountains blur with mist…

Feeling the cold wind passing through…

And the ferries cross without passengers…'

Not only is the moon lost in thought, but the mountains also become faint. It seems as though everything has turned bleak and distant with the arrival of autumn. The cold winds further chill both nature and humanity. The once-bustling ferries are now deserted, symbolizing how human life has become desolate, retreating into isolation. The repetition of 'has' here emphasizes the fullness of autumn's arrival, which now covers the entire landscape, time, and human existence.

Through analyzing Xuan Dieu's poem 'Here Comes the Autumn,' we can appreciate the sorrowful beauty of autumn. It no longer holds romantic, dreamlike qualities but instead carries a sense of deep melancholy. This reflects the feelings of many Vietnamese poets and writers before the August Revolution, as the country was still suffering under colonial oppression and feudalism.

'Clouds swirl aimlessly, birds fly away,

The air is heavy with the bitterness of separation.

Many young women remain silent in sadness,

Staring out of the door, lost in thought.'

The poet, filled with sadness, casts that same sorrow over autumn. While autumn may not be inherently sorrowful, the poet's grief transforms it into something filled with deep pain. In the final stanza, the poet depicts images of separation and parting. Among the desolate autumn scene, the image of a sad young woman staring out the door adds to the sorrowful mood. She looks out, unsure of what she is thinking, much like the poet, who yearns for something he cannot clearly define. The image of 'staring out the door' evokes a sense of unease, a person unsure of where to turn in a world full of uncertainty.

The entire poem paints a picture of a sorrowful autumn using unique artistic techniques. The poet employs vivid words like 'shivering,' 'lingering,' 'weary,' and 'fragile' to make the autumn scene come alive, drawing readers in. The unusual word inversions emphasize the changes in time and the poet's melancholic mood. With free verse, the poet shows his expansive soul, unbound by traditional forms, making the poem easy to connect with, understand, and feel deeply.

Many poets have used autumn as a theme in their works. While Nguyen Khuyen's autumn poems reflect a desolate, isolated sadness, Xuan Dieu's autumn is one of parting and sorrow. This mirrors the feelings of many poets and writers in Vietnam before the August Revolution. But fortunately, after the Revolution, their outlook became more optimistic, filled with vitality. Through 'Here Comes the Autumn,' we gain a deeper appreciation for the melancholic beauty of this season.

Xuân Diệu’s poem, 'Here Comes the Autumn', also explores the familiar theme of autumn, a recurring subject in Vietnamese poetry. However, his portrayal of autumn differs significantly from the traditional autumn imagery found in Nguyễn Khuyến’s 'Autumn Poems'. In this poem, Xuân Diệu infuses fresh emotions, incorporating bold innovations in his poetic style and expressions, crafting a truly unique autumn that reflects his own poetic spirit.

Sensitive to the changes in nature during the transitional period from summer to autumn, the poet observes the transformation of the willow trees, a novel and distinctive feature compared to classical poetry. He compares the willow’s drooping branches to grieving women with unbound hair, shedding tears. This imagery elevates the autumn willow to a more vibrant, youthful, and soulful level.

“The willow grove stands forlorn, mourning,

Its sorrowful hair drips down in endless streams.”

This image reflects Xuân Diệu’s unique aesthetic, using the youthful beauty of women as a metaphor to capture the beauty of nature. However, this beauty is tinged with sadness, evoking a sense of longing. The poet then joyfully announces the arrival of autumn with enthusiasm:

“Here comes the autumn – autumn arrives,

In a dress of faded dreams, weaving golden leaves.”

Xuân Diệu employs repetition in the phrase “Here comes the autumn – autumn arrives,” expressing the excitement and anticipation of the season’s arrival. This mirrors the poet’s affection for autumn’s beauty. Through the image of “a dress of faded dreams weaving golden leaves,” the poet portrays autumn’s slow and graceful approach, akin to a modest, shy maiden walking gently with a smile as sweet and captivating as the soft breath of autumn. The poet’s keen eye notices the color of autumn as a subtle blend of yellow and green, symbolizing the transition between the fading summer and the coming autumn.

“More than one flower has dropped its petals,

In the garden, red hues overtake green;

Shivering winds tremble through the rustling leaves,

Thin, dry branches shake, fragile as bones.”

The poet meticulously describes the autumn scene in the garden: flowers, leaves, branches, and the autumn breeze. He uses enumeration to detail a variety of autumn elements. Some flowers have fallen, while the garden’s leaves are withering. The green, symbolizing vitality, is replaced by the red, representing decay. The poet notes that even the tree branches have become frail, their vitality drained. The branches quiver and shake, trembling from the cold winds.

The autumn scene expands into a three-dimensional space with the moon overhead, distant mountains, and the silent boat journeys:

“Occasionally, the moon stands lost in thought,

The distant mountains begin to fade in mist,

Cold winds creep through the breeze,

And the boats pass empty, no passengers to be seen.”

Xuân Diệu’s use of personification brings the moon to life, depicting it as a beautiful maiden lost in sorrowful thought. This conveys feelings of regret, melancholy, and a sense of being lost. The moon gazes distantly, pondering, as though it is mourning the passage of time.

In the line:

“The distant mountains begin to fade in mist…”

The phrase “distant mountains” evokes an image of rolling, towering peaks, majestic yet softened by mist, symbolizing the grandeur of nature in transition. The poet uses the phrase “cold and damp” to evoke the encroaching chill of winter as it mingles with the autumn winds, expressing the blend of three seasons – summer, autumn, and winter.

“The boats pass empty, no passengers to be seen…”

With fewer people crossing the river, this line captures the sense of abandonment and separation. Xuân Diệu portrays autumn not only as a seasonal change but also as a time of farewells: people part from one another, seasons bid each other farewell, and nature itself undergoes a process of separation. This theme of separation is reflected in the poet’s verses:

“Clouds swirl in the sky, birds fly south,

The air is thick with the sorrow of parting,

Some young women, though silent, are filled with sadness,

Leaning by the door, gazing far, lost in thought.”

The clouds, symbolizing change, whirl in the sky, while the migrating birds feel the approaching cold of winter and hurry south. The sky, too, becomes cloudy and oppressive, mirroring the sadness of separation. This is not just a description of the physical world, but also a reflection of the poet’s emotional landscape.

In the final two lines, Xuân Diệu captures the poignant sadness of autumn:

“Some young women, though silent, are filled with sadness,

Leaning by the door, gazing far, lost in thought.”

The image of the young women, poised by the door with eyes lost in the distance, is both delicate and melancholic. Their quiet sorrow, unspoken yet palpable, adds an air of uncertainty and anxiety, mirroring the poet’s own sense of longing and confusion. These young women are central to the scene, their quiet beauty bringing the poet’s words to life.

'Here Comes the Autumn' from Xuân Diệu’s collection 'Poetry' captures a breathtaking autumn landscape during the changing seasons. Through his modern poetic techniques, the poet conveys his sensitivity to nature and its transitions. This poem stands out as a shining example of Xuân Diệu’s poetic talent, blending beauty and sadness into an unforgettable depiction of autumn.

The poet Xuân Diệu was one of the seven members of the Tự Lực Văn Đoàn group. He is also considered a prominent representative of the New Poetry movement with two famous poetry collections: *Thơ thơ* and *Gửi hương cho gió*. His poems, especially those about love, have always been warmly embraced by readers, earning him the title of “the king of love poetry.” In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories, essays, literary critiques, and journalism.

Xuân Diệu is regarded as one of the most modern poets of the New Poetry movement. His poetry stands out for its unique, creative use of language, captivating readers with its charm. Anyone who has read his work is likely to remember his deep yearning for life and harmony with nature.

Before the Revolution, his poems were deeply personal, but after the Revolution, Xuân Diệu’s work became more focused on real-life issues, reflecting the urgency of his time. He recognized his responsibility to society and the nation, incorporating praises for the Revolution and visions of a brighter future in his work.

His poem *Đây mùa thu tới* was published in *Thơ thơ* and is one of his pre-Revolution works, still reflecting a melancholic mood. Let’s analyze the poem to understand Xuân Diệu’s unique perspective on autumn.

From the title “Đây mùa thu tới” (Here Comes Autumn), readers can immediately grasp the poem’s theme: the arrival of autumn. However, it’s not autumn in full bloom or at its end, but the moment when autumn is just beginning, as the earth and sky bid farewell to summer and welcome the new season. Upon observing this transition, Xuân Diệu perceives:

“The willow stands sorrowfully, mourning,

Its sorrowful hair falls, tears like endless strands;

Here comes autumn – autumn comes

With a faded dream dress weaving golden leaves.”

The first image that strikes the poet when autumn arrives is the drooping willow. While the average person may see a delicate, graceful willow, the poet perceives it as mourning, as if it were in a funeral procession. Each drooping branch is likened to tears falling. It’s a melancholic and sorrowful sight. The willow seems to embody the image of a widow weeping at a funeral. The sadness is palpable, and the reader can feel the deep sorrow of the scene. In the next two lines, the poet announces, “autumn comes, autumn comes,” with muted colors and yellow leaves, which further emphasizes the somber atmosphere of the new autumn.

In this stanza, the poet uses personification, giving autumn human-like qualities, making it capable of crying, feeling sorrow, and weaving leaves. This highlights the poet’s sense of despair and sadness about life.

As we move to the second stanza, the poet’s keen, sensitive eyes see autumn’s arrival marked by loss: flowers falling one after another. Instead of the fresh green of summer, autumn ushers in red, pushing the green aside to dominate the scene. Moreover, autumn brings chilly winds that cause leaves to tremble, not in joy as in summer, but in fear. The bare, withered branches seem fragile and lifeless.

“More than one flower has fallen from its branch,

In the garden, red hues replace the green;

Winds of trembling shiver the leaves…

Dry, thin branches, brittle and frail.”

The poet uses color and delicate details to paint a picture of autumn that feels desolate and lifeless, as though it reflects the poet’s own sense of hopelessness. This sense of loss and uncertainty mirrors the mood of the poet before the August Revolution, feeling lifeless and adrift in time. The inverted word order in these lines emphasizes the stark changes in nature as autumn arrives, underscoring the sadness of the season.

While the previous lines focus on changes in nature, the next stanza explores the transition of the universe and humanity. Here, the poet refers to the moon as “nàng trăng” (Lady Moon), portraying the moon as a wistful maiden, regretful and lost, observing the changing world. The moon of autumn is not its usual bright, clear self but seems to be absent-minded, as if yearning for something or mourning.

“Occasionally, Lady Moon gazes wistfully…

The distant mountains begin to fade into mist…

The cold wind whispers through the air…

Empty boats are absent from the river…”

Not only is the moon lost in thought, but the mountains also appear faint and distant. Everything becomes empty and ghostly as autumn takes hold. Cold winds add to the chill, making the earth and sky feel cold and desolate. The usual busy riverboats are now empty, signifying that people have retreated into isolation. The repeated use of “already” stresses that autumn has fully arrived, enveloping the world in its grasp.

Through the analysis of *Đây mùa thu tới*, we can feel the melancholy beauty of autumn. Autumn is no longer the romantic, dreamy season but one filled with sorrow and gloom. This reflects the mood of most Vietnamese poets and writers before the August Revolution when the country was struggling, trapped in a cycle of suffering under the colonial and feudal forces.

“The clouds swirl, birds fly away,

The air is filled with sorrow from separation.

Few young women are silent in their sorrow,

Leaning against the door, staring far away, pondering what?”

In this state of sorrow, the poet paints the autumn landscape in shades of sadness. While autumn may not necessarily be this melancholic, Xuân Diệu could not conceal his sorrow, embedding it into the poem. The final stanza, with its imagery of parting and death, adds to the sorrowful tone. In this bleak autumn scene, the image of the silent, distant young woman deepens the sense of loss. She gazes far off, lost in thought, unsure of what she is longing for, much like the poet’s own unfulfilled desires. The image of “leaning against the door” and gazing into the distance conveys deep sadness, unease, and anxiety about life’s uncertainty.

The entire poem is a melancholic autumn scene painted with the poet’s unique artistic techniques. Xuân Diệu uses onomatopoeic words like “tremble,” “wistful,” “drooping,” and “frail” to make the autumn picture more vivid and captivating. These inversions help the poem express the passage of time and the poet’s heavy heart. Through his free verse, the poet reveals his free spirit, unbound by formal constraints. This makes the poem easy to connect with, simple to understand, and deeply moving.

Many poets have chosen autumn as the theme for their works. While Nguyễn Khuyến’s autumn poems depict solitude and desolation, Xuân Diệu’s autumn is full of sorrow, loss, and mourning. This reflects the common mood of many Vietnamese poets and writers before the August Revolution. However, after the Revolution, their perspectives brightened, and their works were filled with renewed energy and hope.

The poem *Tiếng thu* (Autumn Sounds) by the poet Lưu Trọng Lư paints a melancholic picture of autumn, contrasting its quiet beauty with the sadness it evokes. Unlike the vibrant spring or the energetic summer, autumn in the poem is marked by a soft, yet profound sorrow. The poet captures the essence of autumn with gentle imagery, describing the rustling of dry leaves, the hesitant steps of a deer, and the cool, reflective silence of the season. The poem beautifully encapsulates autumn as a time of introspection and nostalgia, its sadness mirrored by the poet’s own feelings of longing and solitude. It is a season of change, but also one that brings a deep sense of loss. Through his words, Lưu Trọng Lư invites us to experience the emotional weight of autumn, as if the season itself is grieving its passage.

Xuân Diệu (1916-1985) is one of the most celebrated poets of love in Vietnam, known for his prolific output with over 400 love poems. He is considered the most modern among the 'new poets'. Xuân Diệu is also a poet of autumn. For him, 'love has no age and spring has no dates,' while autumn holds an endless depth of emotions, evoking both longing and a gentle restlessness, for 'when autumn comes, everywhere resonates with its ethereal sound.' In his two early collections, 'Thơ Thơ' and 'Gửi Hương Cho Gió,' there are numerous poems about the autumn hues, fragrance, moon, love, and the youthful beauty of autumn afternoons. Autumn, to him, is so enchanting that it causes the poet’s soul to vibrate, like the delicate strings of a mystical instrument. 'Đây Mùa Thu Tới' (This Autumn is Coming) is a masterpiece of autumn poetry from his collection 'Thơ Thơ,' published in 1938. The arrival of autumn stirs the world, transforming the scenery into something beautiful yet melancholic. The young woman's heart is filled with a deep sense of wistfulness as autumn descends. Xuân Diệu’s first impression of autumn is not the sound of rice-threshing or the famous image of falling leaves, but the weeping willows along the lake or roadside: 'Willows stand forlorn, mourning, Their sorrowful hair hanging down in endless lines.' This image of the 'forlorn willows' conjures an atmosphere of melancholy and solitude. The willow branches hang like the hair of a forsaken woman, and their leaves, soaked in the autumn dew, resemble 'thousands of tears.' The personification of the willows, as they 'mourn,' along with the sound repetition in the verse—'dìu hiu' (sorrowful) and 'buông xuống' (falling down)—creates a melody that mirrors the poet’s deep feelings, inspired by the Symbolist poetry of 19th-century France. As the poet gazes at the willows, he softly exclaims, realizing that autumn has arrived. The rhythmic break between 'autumn is coming' and 'autumn is here' reflects the long-awaited return of this season: 'Here comes autumn, here it comes, With its pale dreams, weaving golden leaves.' The phrase 'pale dreams' and the delicate description of 'weaving golden leaves' evoke the tender spirit of autumn. As autumn arrives, everything changes—the color of nature transforms into a faint 'pale dream,' where flashes of golden leaves provide a subtle touch of brightness to the landscape. The line is full of lyrical beauty, capturing autumn’s essence. The first stanza paints a picture of autumn that is both beautiful and poetic, filled with a sadness that pervades nature and the human heart, yet not too heavy to burden the soul. As days and nights pass, autumn gradually fades. The scenery shifts, and flowers begin to 'fall from their branches.' The poet does not write 'a few flowers,' but instead uses 'more than one,' which is a unique and fresh expression. In the garden, red hues are gradually replacing green as autumn’s touch becomes more vivid. This transformation is also echoed in the lines of poet Tản Đà in his poem 'Cảm Thu, Tiễn Thu' (Feeling Autumn, Saying Goodbye to Autumn): 'Colors dye the horizon, The grasses and trees blush in the setting sun.' The trees start shedding their leaves, standing bare like fragile bones, trembling before the chill autumn breeze. The second stanza captures the trembling, fluttering movement of the leaves in the cool autumn air: 'More than one flower has fallen from the branches, In the garden, red is replacing green.' The onomatopoeic words like 'trembling' and 'fluttering' reflect the delicate, subtle movement of the autumn leaves. The use of the 'r' sound in words like 'falling,' 'replacing,' 'trembling,' and the 'm' sound in 'one,' 'color,' 'fragile' add a sense of beauty and depth to the emotional expression, marking a distinctive feature in Xuân Diệu’s poetic style. In the third stanza, Xuân Diệu blends reality with symbolism, both inherited and innovative. There is still the moon, but it is a 'moon lost in its own thoughts,' floating above the horizon. He does not specify the moon’s age but refers to it as 'the moon.' The image is poetic and reflects the beauty of the autumn moon, surrounded by distant mountains, veiled in mist, creating an ethereal, dreamlike effect: 'Occasionally, the moon lingers, lost in thought, Mountains rise, fading in the mist.' The phrases 'the moon has been heard' and 'is already vacant' evoke a vast, empty landscape of autumn evenings, where the atmosphere seems deserted and quiet: 'Already, a chill drifts in the wind, Already, people are absent, crossing the ferry.' The poet employs a sense of shifting perceptions between touch and sound. The moon and the cold, empty space represent a sensory experience that transcends the ordinary—it's not just a visual feeling but an emotional, almost spiritual one. The word 'drifts' conveys the sense of coldness that slips into the breeze, not harsh, but subtle and chilly as autumn sets in. In the final stanza, Xuân Diệu presents a stunning portrayal of autumn, with beauty found in both nature and in the ephemeral presence of a young woman. The clouds and birds evoke a sense of beautiful sadness, reminiscent of the separation found in love songs: 'Drifting clouds, flying birds.' The poet captures the gentle, serene motion of the birds and the clouds as metaphors for the quiet sorrow of autumn, reflecting the stillness in both nature and the poet's heart: 'Clouds drift across the sky, birds fly away, The atmosphere grows heavy with sorrowful separation.' In this tranquil, distant setting, the figure of a young woman appears, but her emotions are vague, and the sadness is silent: 'The young woman, perhaps, is silent in her sorrow, Leaning against the door, lost in thought.' Is it spring or autumn? Is it summer or winter? Amidst nature’s ever-changing hues, the image of the youthful woman is always present in Xuân Diệu’s poetry—perhaps a symbol of longing, of fleeting beauty. 'By the door, the needle pauses to embroider the tapestry, The woman’s eyes are like boats.' ('Spring Smile' - Thơ Thơ) In Yên Đổ’s autumn poems, the sorrowful and lonely autumn is represented by an old man sitting, holding his fishing rod, in the cold autumn pond. Sometimes, he’s a drunk man sipping wine in the deep night, or a scholar contemplating the autumn scene. But in Xuân Diệu’s autumn poetry, it is the image of a youthful woman, caught in a dreamy longing, lost in her own thoughts. This melancholic, dreamy sadness, unsure of its origin, is a distinctive feature of Xuân Diệu’s poetic voice: 'Perhaps the young woman is silent in her sorrow...' 'I am sad, but I do not understand why I am sad...' 'Đây Mùa Thu Tới' is an exquisite autumn poem by Xuân Diệu. Every element of autumn—its forms, colors, emotions—is painted with skill and sensitivity. The landscape, the colors of autumn, and the feelings of love are all portrayed beautifully yet tinged with sadness. Above all, it is the image of the young woman—a delicate symbol of autumn—who fills the poem with both beauty and longing. Her presence resonates in the heart of the poet and in the soul of anyone who reads these lines, capturing the magic of autumn in Hanoi.

Xuan Dieu, the master of love poetry, is known not only for his innovative perspectives on life, youth, and love but also for being regarded as the poet of autumn. His poems capture the romantic and melancholic moments of autumn, imbuing them with a soul-stirring resonance. 'Here Comes Autumn' is one of his most iconic works, where the season of autumn is presented with such charm that it makes the poet's heart resonate like the strings of a violin.

Extracted from the collection 'Poetry', the poem 'Here Comes Autumn', written in 1938, beautifully encapsulates the arrival of autumn with its falling leaves and the chilly breeze that stirs the hearts of those who, like the poet, are sensitive to even the smallest changes in nature.

However, the autumn in this poem evokes a sense of sadness, not portrayed through flowers or gusty winds but through the image of willow branches:

"The willow grove stands mournfully,

With hair falling down like tears of sorrow."

The atmosphere is one of stillness and grief, with the willow trees seeming to stand in mourning. Their long, drooping branches resemble the sorrowful hair of a forlorn maiden. The poet’s use of alliteration, such as "mournfully – suffer" and "sorrow – thousand – row" creates a rhythm that enriches the music of the poem, making it uniquely vivid.

As the poet gazes at the willows, he realizes autumn has arrived, and through his use of a 4/3 rhythmic pattern and the repeated phrase "here comes autumn", he captures both the arrival of the season and the poet's deep yearning for its return:

"Here comes autumn, here comes autumn

With a dreamlike veil of yellow leaves."

The delicate rhyme of "comes – with" and the choice of the word "woven" adds a layer of artistic grace to the description. Autumn is depicted not as a sudden change but as a careful, deliberate process, as the yellow leaves gradually blanket the landscape, evoking an ethereal beauty.

Autumn brings with it a shift in the landscape, as nature transforms and the colors of the world begin to fade. The flowers fall, the red tints begin to overshadow the green, and the trees start to shed their leaves, revealing their bare branches that tremble in the cool autumn breeze:

"More than one flower has fallen from the branch,

In the garden, red hues fade into green."

The use of words like "tremble", "shiver", and "fragile" creates an impression of the delicate and fleeting nature of autumn. The shifting colors, especially the contrast of red overtaking green, adds an artistic beauty to the poem, highlighting the inevitable passage of time.

The third stanza blends both real and symbolic imagery, mixing realism with symbolic elements to enhance the poetic atmosphere. The poet describes the moon with its timeless beauty and the distant mountains emerging from a foggy mist, giving a profound sense of the eternal autumn landscape:

"Occasionally, the moon seems lost in thought,

As distant mountains begin to fade in mist…"

"The cold seeps through the wind,

As the boats grow empty and people depart."

Words like "have heard" and "have departed" evoke the vast, silent emptiness of autumn afternoons, with the air filled with a sense of chill and solitude. The poet conveys a sensory experience that transcends simple perception, capturing the cold through intuition and the haunting silence through memory.

The final stanza brings an image of nature’s beauty, with the ethereal presence of clouds, birds in flight, and a young maiden—beauty both in nature and in the ephemeral human spirit. The scene is wistful, capturing the bittersweet beauty of nature's fleeting beauty and the sadness that follows:

"Clouds swirl through the sky, birds fly away,

The air grows heavy with the sorrow of separation…"

"The maiden, though silent, gazes longingly,

Staring into the distance, lost in thought."

In Xuân Diệu's poetry, the figure of a beautiful woman often appears, a symbol of longing and dreams. In 'Here Comes Autumn', she represents both the transient nature of life and the poet’s own reflections on time and change, a new perspective on autumn in his work.

'Here Comes Autumn' leaves a lasting impression on readers with its unique and fresh perspective. Even though the poem is deeply connected to nature, the poet's recurring motif of a beloved figure highlights the intertwined beauty of nature and human emotion. The essence of autumn—its shape, color, and melancholic beauty—is vividly painted with rich, expressive words, capturing the deep, mysterious sadness that lingers with the season.

Xuan Dieu stands as one of the towering figures in the New Poetry movement in Vietnam. Among his works focused on the theme of autumn, his poem 'This Autumn Comes' is the most notable. While addressing the familiar subject of autumn, the poem still employs traditional literary devices, yet Xuan Dieu imbues it with fresh emotions and innovative approaches in handling the poetic materials and expressions. This is why the poem remains a remarkable success, exemplifying the spirit of the poet's modern style.

The willow grove stands desolate, mourning

Its sorrowful hair hangs down like a thousand tears

This autumn comes, this autumn comes

With a pale dream-cloak woven from yellow leaves

Rather than using the symbol of falling banyan leaves to evoke autumn, Xuan Dieu employs the image of the willow tree, much like in the classic 'Kieu' or traditional folk songs where 'the delicate willow by the bridge sways in the twilight.' In Xuan Dieu's poem, the willow is personified, transforming into a graceful, sorrowful woman mourning her lost love. The poet brings a unique touch by giving the willow a physical form, a human soul, and a melancholic sadness. This sadness is conveyed through the onomatopoeic phrase 'desolate,' evoking weakness, while 'sorrowful hair hanging down like a thousand tears' amplifies the feeling of autumn's sadness, symbolizing farewell and mourning. The phrase 'This autumn comes – this autumn comes' emphasizes the arrival of autumn in haste, a sensitive and delicate communication of the poet's perception. The 4/3 rhythm and the repetition of 'autumn comes' feel like a sudden realization that autumn, once intangible, is now real. Xuan Dieu welcomes the season with all his heart: 'With a pale dream-cloak woven from yellow leaves.'

Xuan Dieu paints autumn with a faded dream-cloak, giving the season an ethereal, bright, and noble appearance. This hue is almost ghostly. The verb 'woven' conveys a sense of motion, implying that the yellow color is not static. The vibrant yet subdued green fades, subtly revealing the power of nature. This line sacrifices clarity but gains a touch of lyrical beauty. The first stanza uses personification to create a stunning image of early autumn's beauty, free from sadness.

More than one type of flower has fallen from the branches

In the garden, the red hue clashes with the green

Waves of shuddering leaves quiver

Dry, fragile branches thin as bone

'More than one' is a vague term that suggests an indeterminate number, yet conveys a more evocative sense of the scene than 'a few' or 'several.' 'Fallen flowers' replaces the common 'fallen leaves,' enhancing the feeling of loss and sorrow.

'In the garden, the red hue clashes with the green'

The word 'clashes' suggests a conflict between the red and green, highlighting the sharp contrast. The poet uses these vivid colors to evoke the cruel passage of time that dulls everything, even the colors of the leaves.

'Waves of shuddering leaves quiver'

The repeated 'r' sound creates a chilling sensation, mimicking the soft trembling of leaves. The alliteration of the consonant 'r' makes the line feel alive with a cold, vibrating energy that mirrors the fear and nervousness of the leaves. The poet captures both the internal and external movements of nature.

'Dry, fragile branches thin as bone'

This line presents a vivid image of bare branches at the onset of autumn, still undefined, merely 'branches' rather than fully formed trees. Xuan Dieu uses sharp, evocative language to convey the vulnerability of the landscape, sensing its quiet fear as the leaves fall, slowly disintegrating into nothingness.

Occasionally, the lonely moon appears, absent-minded

The distant mountains begin to fade into the mist

Cold chills creep through the wind

The boats have gone, leaving only emptiness

The moon appears, lonely and absent-minded, while the distant mountains blur, evoking a sense of desolation. The word 'gone' intensifies the feeling of solitude and abandonment.

'Cold chills creep through the wind'

The word 'creep' indicates a sensory shift, moving from the tactile to the auditory. The cold wind seems to blend into one entity, yet the word 'creep' also splits it into two separate, tangible forces. This personification of coldness gives it a more profound, physical presence. The poet uses all the senses to communicate the cold, melancholic atmosphere of the scene.

The sky is clouded, and the birds have flown away

The atmosphere is heavy, burdened with the grief of separation

A few young women, silent and sorrowful

Stand by the window, lost in thought

The fourth stanza turns to a wider perspective, where the sky, once clear, now becomes heavy with sorrow. 'Clouded sky, birds flying away' symbolizes the emotional void and division, painting a scene of abandonment. The young women are immersed in their own sadness, lost in thought. The phrase 'few young women' adds a touch of personal melancholy, emphasizing the solitude of each individual in the vastness of the landscape.

This poem shows the poet's sensitivity, keen observational skills, and rich imagination. The sadness in Xuan Dieu's poetry is not merely the melancholy of people in an uncertain era but reflects his own unique experiences. His desire to connect with life contrasts with the coldness he perceives around him, all while being haunted by the irreversible passage of time. The poem reflects a profound love for the homeland, showcasing the positive side of Xuan Dieu's work and the New Poetry movement.