Top 8 Essays and Paragraphs Analyzing the Poem 'Lời má năm xưa' (Literature 10) - Best Selections

The excerpt is from the article "The Harmony of Folk Buddhism and Ecological Environment," published in *Cherished Days...* by Tran Bao Dinh, a collection of short stories, HCMC General Publishing House, 2020.

The text recalls the childhood story of a boy who once accidentally shot a kingfisher by the riverbank. Guided by his mother’s advice, he rescued it, treated its wounds, and tried to save its life, yet the guilt and regret over his actions haunted him for years. The story speaks to the love for animals, a lesson his mother sought to impart to him.

The narrative is simple, dealing with common experiences shared by every human, including the author. It presents a meaningful message through the mother’s teachings and the author’s lasting regret about the incident, which occurred 70 years ago. The story highlights the author’s deep remorse and guilt when recalling the moment he wounded the bird.

The excerpt begins with the author recalling a traditional song from his beloved rural village: "In my hometown, everyone knows this lullaby:"

"The kingfisher may one day fall into a trap, Tell him to stay away from danger, Parents can’t bear to see him harmed, I dare not disobey and follow him."

This lullaby conveys a deep love for a partner, yet it also underscores familial love. The kingfisher, known for diving into the water to hunt, is prone to falling into traps set by humans or enemies. But the song warns the boy to avoid such dangers for his own good, as parents will always protect their children. This blend of romantic and family sentiments gives us insight into the kingfisher’s life, a creature that lives independently, adapts to its environment, and looks out for its companions.

Reading this, one can’t help but be moved by the kingfisher’s strength and independence. It doesn’t rely on a mother for nurturing or protection, but survives on its own. The bird even shares its food with a mate or fellow kingfisher in need. The narrator, as a child, hunted these birds with slingshots, using clay pellets. Some birds were injured, while others died. The author regrets harming such a loving, noble creature.

When the boy’s mother heard of the incident, she scolded him, asking, "Why did you take away its life? Who will take yours?" Her words made the narrator realize the error of his ways. The real savior of the kingfisher was the mother who made her son face the consequences of his actions. The boy brought the injured bird home and treated it, but when he offered it food, it refused to eat, perhaps out of anger or resentment. The boy’s remorse grew deeper, realizing that the bird could have been free if he hadn’t harmed it.

In the end, the bird healed but remained weak and unable to fly. The bond between mother and child is evident in this story of healing, love, and lessons learned. The mother’s compassion and wisdom saved the bird, just as she had saved her son from ignorance.

Through the author’s narrative, we see the strong emotional bond between the kingfisher and its kin. The kingfisher may be a simple bird, but it lives with deep affection and compassion, just like humans. The story encourages us to protect nature and wildlife, teaching us that harming them will only lead to regret and sorrow later on. This lesson, passed down by the mother, is one the narrator carries with him throughout his life, sharing it with readers as a reminder to cherish life, protect nature, and value the lessons of compassion and empathy.

The author’s work beautifully portrays the relationship between humans, nature, and animals. The story encourages us to appreciate the environment and preserve the interconnectedness of all living beings. Just as the author’s narrative resonates with timeless lessons, so too does the love between humans and nature. Through simple, heartfelt words, the text conveys a powerful message about the value of life and the importance of empathy and respect for all creatures.

Tran Bao Dinh’s story, through personal experience, reveals hidden beauty in the simplest moments. The story of "The Mother’s Advice" speaks of nature’s beauty and the tender lessons passed down from mother to child. It remains a poignant and meaningful narrative for readers, enduring time and space as it touches the heart deeply.

'Mother's Advice from the Past' is the title and also the setting of the story. These are the spontaneous words of wisdom from a mother that her child remembers and follows throughout their life.

The plot of the story is simple but carries significant meaning. It revolves around ordinary scenes that lead to deep reflection for the author over many years. The incident of shooting a bird, which leaves the character 'I' feeling guilty for decades, is a seemingly simple situation that, upon closer analysis, reveals its profound significance.

Right from the beginning, the author introduces an important piece of information: In my hometown, both boys and girls know the local chant: 'The kingfisher bird may one day fall into a trap.'

'I warn you to stay away.'

'Parents cannot bear it.'

'I dare not defy them to follow you.'

This chant reflects regional customs and introduces the story with a unique opening. The song expresses a love between two people, yet their parents oppose it. The girl cannot go against her parents, thus avoiding the boy's advances. Later in the story, the author describes the characteristics and lifestyle of kingfisher birds. These birds do not receive protection from their mothers but must fend for themselves to survive. They also exhibit compassion, an emotion we rarely associate with animals. They protect one another, sharing food with the older, weaker birds in the group.

In the story, the protagonist, representing the author, plays with his friends. During these times, the children mischievously use slingshots to shoot at kingfisher birds. Some birds are wounded, others killed, and the children think little of it, viewing the act as just a game. None of the children consider the pain of the birds or the loss of life caused by their childish actions. They fail to understand the harm they are causing to these gentle creatures. Perhaps at that time, they lacked the maturity to grasp such concepts, being engrossed in play and mischief. The mother’s question, 'Why did you take away its life? Who would take yours away?' awakens the character 'I'. This simple question makes the child realize that their actions were wrong. The mother orders the child to retrieve the wounded bird from the riverbank, care for it, but the bird refuses to eat the food offered by the child, as if in silent protest. This marks the moment of transformation for the mischievous child.

The image of the mother is central here. She is the guide, teaching her child right from wrong. Thanks to her wisdom, a small life is saved, and later, possibly many more lives will be spared. Years later, when reflecting on this event, the now grown-up author still feels regret and guilt. Especially, the recurring question from the mother, 'Why did you take away its life? Who would take yours away?' continues to resonate, reinforcing the theme and title of the story, and reminding the reader of the sacred bond of motherhood. The author uses repetition to emphasize this question, alongside various rhetorical devices such as enumeration and personification, making the images in the story feel vivid and real. Through this emotional plot and well-structured timeline, the character’s feelings are clearly expressed.

The message the author wishes to convey is a lesson the mother taught her child: to love and respect animals, to treat them as equals to humans. The story 'Mother’s Advice from the Past' leaves the reader with many emotions and highlights the central theme and message of the narrative.

In a story passed down by my mother, she recalled the childhood of the protagonist, who had once carelessly shot a bird using a slingshot. After receiving a scolding from my mother, the protagonist understood his mistake and nursed the bird back to health. The narrative brings to life the story of a young boy who, in his youth, accidentally shot a fish-eating bird by the riverbank. Thanks to his mother's guidance, he rescued the bird, bandaged its wounds, and tried to heal it, but the guilt and regret of his action lingered, following him throughout his life. This piece illustrates human compassion for animals and serves as a lesson imparted by the mother to her child. The story portrays the protagonist's deep remorse and sorrow over his actions towards the bird, revealing his compassionate, empathetic, and kind-hearted nature. Additionally, the text introduces the fish-eating bird (also known as a kingfisher) and effectively highlights the wisdom, kindness, and understanding of the protagonist's mother, who saved the bird in its time of need and helped awaken the child to his own sense of empathy.

The story of the protagonist shooting the kingfisher prompts readers to reflect on the relationship between humans, nature, and animals. Humans, nature, and the environment are closely intertwined, always existing alongside one another. Therefore, there is no reason for humans to disrupt this balance. It is essential to protect the ecological environment and nature, ensuring that human life becomes more complete and beautiful. Additionally, the story of the protagonist’s mother serves as a reminder to practice kindness. We should place ourselves in others' shoes and think carefully before acting, so as to avoid future regret. We must embrace the idea of humanity as one large family, where love and compassion prevail, and harm is never intended.

If I had to choose the best song, I would undoubtedly choose literature, for to me, literature has contributed many meaningful and beautiful stories about humanity and life. And when talking about writer Trần Bảo Định, one cannot fail to mention the excerpt from 'Mother's Words of the Past.' To this day, with its profound phrases, this work leaves a lasting impression, stirring the hearts of many readers.

'Mother's Words of the Past' is a work with a simple plot. It is a meaningful text, containing a mother's lessons and the author's lingering regret that has endured from that time to the present.

The work begins with the introduction of a familiar folk song from the author's beloved hometown: In my hometown, both boys and girls know the lyrics to this folk song:

'The fishing bird may get caught in a trap

Tell me, and I’ll stay away

Parents cannot bear it

I dare not go against them to follow you'

These are folk verses expressing the love between lovers. The 'fishing bird,' also known as the kingfisher, dives down or flies over water to catch prey. But with such hunting habits, the bird is often caught in traps, as the author illustrates in the folk song 'The fishing bird may get caught in a trap.' The girl, 'I,' advises the boy to stay away from the traps of enemies. The girl's love for the boy is restricted by her parents, and she cannot follow him. These verses blend romantic love with familial affection.

Through these lines, the author helps us understand more about the kingfisher's behavior and survival traits. From an early age, the bird lives independently, adapting to its environment without a mother to care for it. As it grows, it forms bonds with its kind, living together and protecting each other. Despite being a bird, it shows compassion for others, willingly sharing food with a mate or with birds in need, even offering water full of shrimp and fish to the sick and weak. Upon reading this, readers cannot help but feel moved by the kingfisher's strength, independence, and kind heart.

As time reflects back to his childhood, the author recalls the past with nostalgia and emotion. When he was young, he and his friends would shoot small iron bullets at the kingfishers, some would survive with injuries, while others, unable to fly fast enough, would die. Reflecting on the past, the author feels deep regret and sorrow for having harmed such a compassionate bird.

When his child made the same mistake, his mother asked a question that awakened him: 'Why did you take its life? And who will take your life?' A simple question, yet it made the child realize the wrongness of his actions. His mother then sent him to the river to retrieve the kingfisher he had shot, to bring it to shore and care for it. The author took the bird home and treated its wounds. Fish, its favorite food, which it risked its life to catch every day, was offered to it, but it refused to eat. Perhaps, at that moment, it was expressing its displeasure with the narrator. This confused and made him regret his actions, wishing he had not shot the bird, so it could freely soar outside. Through this, readers can see the 'turnaround' of the narrator, a mischievous child who, through his mother's guidance, saved the small life in time.

Though its wounds healed, the kingfisher remained weak, too frail to fly. Seeing this, the author took it to a mulberry tree near the water’s edge where it reunited with its kind. Surrounded by other kingfishers, the bird was fed, and, perhaps due to its happiness, it ate heartily, making the author watch in longing. This detail once again highlights the emotional, cohesive, and supportive nature of these birds, whose bonds are powerful and unwavering. Despite being a bird, they live with great affection.

Returning to the present, the events of seventy years ago still linger in the author's heart with a sense of regret. The question his mother asked remains the most memorable: 'Why did you take its life? And who will take your life?' This question is repeated twice in the text, not only emphasizing the title and theme of the work but also accentuating the deep remorse and unforgettable memories of the author's mother’s teachings. His mother wanted to teach him to understand, love, and cherish all living creatures.

With direct expressions of emotion combined with listing techniques, the work conveys a meaningful lesson about cherishing, protecting, and respecting nature and animals. These creatures have emotions, feel pain, and sadness. We should never harm them because, in the future, we may regret our actions and feel guilt.

'Mother's Words of the Past' leaves a lasting impression on its readers. It transcends time and space, remaining a profound memory in the hearts of those who read it.

Literature is a remarkable form of art that evokes profound emotions in its readers. It explores a wide range of topics, each unique in its own way, depending on the individual author's style. Most notably, it reflects the inner world of the artist, expressing things that are hidden deep within, or even things the writer may not fully realize. 'Words from My Mother' by Trần Bảo Định is a prime example of a work that delves into the depths of the human soul. The text is filled with emotional reflections that leave a lasting impact on the reader.

'Words from My Mother' is not just the title of the story, but it encapsulates the essence of the narrative. It represents the unexpected words of wisdom spoken by a mother in the past, words that her child would carry with them throughout their life. The plot is simple, yet it powerfully conveys the central theme. Though the story takes place in an ordinary setting, it sparks a sense of regret for the author that lingers for many years. The act of injuring a bird becomes a source of guilt for the narrator that continues for decades. What seems like a trivial situation, upon closer inspection, reveals its true significance.

In the opening, the author provides the reader with a piece of cultural context: In my hometown, young men and women all know a local folk song:

"The kingfisher might one day fall into a trap"

"I tell you to stay away, don’t get too close"

"Our parents won't approve of us"

"I can’t defy them just to be with you"

This line represents a unique feature of our region and serves as a striking opening. The folk song speaks of a love between two people, but their parents disapprove. The girl listens to her parents and avoids the boy, distancing herself from him.

The author later describes kingfishers, detailing their characteristics and survival instincts. The young birds do not have the protection of their mother's wings but must fend for themselves to survive. Despite this, they display compassion and care, showing a love for others that we often overlook. They protect one another, sharing fish with the older, weaker members of the flock.

In the story, the main character, representing the author, often played with his friends. During these playful moments, they would mischievously shoot slingshots at the kingfishers. These birds, often referred to as 'the kingfisher,' would be injured or killed by the children’s actions, who thought of it as a game. None of them considered the suffering these innocent birds went through, or the fact that their lives were being taken for mere entertainment. Perhaps they were too young to understand the gravity of their actions, or simply did not care. In their innocence, they unintentionally harmed these gentle creatures.

A single question from the mother shook the narrator to their core: “Why did you take its life? And who will take yours?” With just this simple query, the mother made the child realize that their actions were wrong. She instructed him to go to the river, retrieve the injured bird, and care for it. Yet, the small bird refused to eat the food offered, as if in protest, reflecting the boy’s own internal transformation. This moment vividly highlights the role of the mother as the guide, the one who teaches the child right from wrong. Thanks to her, a life was saved, and perhaps many more could be spared in the future.

Years later, even as the author grew older, the memory of that event still weighed heavily on their heart. The mother's question, “Why did you take its life? And who will take yours?” continues to echo throughout the story, acting as a constant reminder of human compassion and the sanctity of life. This phrase not only emphasizes the central theme of the narrative but also evokes deep emotions regarding the sacred bond between a mother and her child.

The author employs the rhetorical technique of repetition, using the question to bring out the central theme of the story. Alongside this, literary devices such as listing and personification are used, making the imagery more vivid. The author constructs a poignant story, with a well-organized timeline, and clearly portrays the emotional journey of the characters. Ultimately, the lesson the author wishes to impart is one of empathy and kindness towards all living beings, urging the reader to treat animals with the same respect as humans. 'Words from My Mother' leaves a lasting emotional impression and reinforces the story's key message and theme.