Authors – Works

Unusually beautiful 'flowers' on the fire line

NGUYEN THI BINH December 15, 2024 11:03

The poem "Flowers on the Fire Line" by poet Do Trung Quan depicts the hardships and difficulties of the youth volunteer generation during the anti-American war. Although life was extremely difficult and dangerous, they never lost their will.

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The female youth volunteers were compared by poet Do Trung Quan to flowers on the front line.

Flowers on the Fire Line

There is no mirror in the forest.
How did you see the bruise on your cheek?
The ambulance trip back slipped several times.
Because the rainy season has not ended here.

The wounded soldier just woke up this morning.
Asked about the stretcher bearer yesterday
“I can count how many times she fell.
But why not cry is strange!”

I'm sure you understand me in your heart.
Tears are only for the fallen
So even though the fall hurts, the thorns in the forest sting your feet
Don't let my wound bleed twice

I am a youth volunteer
No guns, just shoulders to carry the wounded and ammunition
Amidst enemy bullets, a brave heart
I go long distance to add fire to attack

I see you baby in the middle of the march
Pride in your eyes is strange
In the faded shirt with double patches
Vietnamese girl is incredibly beautiful

Oh! Flowers blooming in the battlefield
Blooming brightly in both scent and color
Seeing the bruise on her cheek made me want to cry.
Why do you smile so kindly, my dear?
DO TRUNG QUAN

Do Trung Quan is a famous poet with many poems that have been set to music such as: "Homeland", "Phuong Hong", "Huong Tram"... His works always reflect the multi-dimensional nuances of life, open, new but also very real. Poem "Flowers on the Fire Line" written by Do Trung Quan in 1979, praising the heroic beauty and indomitable qualities of the female youth volunteers. This poem was set to music by musician Nguyen Cuu Dung into a song of the same name.

The poem "Flowers on the Front Line" depicts the hardships and difficulties of the youth volunteer generation during the anti-American war. Although their fighting life was extremely difficult and dangerous, they never lost their will.

The first stanza of the poem partly describes the hardships of the girls when doing their duty.“There is no mirror in the forest/ How can I see the bruise on my cheek/ On the return trip to the hospital, I slipped and fell several times/ Because the rainy season has not ended here yet”. Through realistic images on the battlefield, the poet helped readers understand the nature and work of the youth volunteers. The praise of the wounded soldier further beautified that bravery and resilience:“I can count how many times she fell/ But it's strange that she didn't cry!”

In the fierce battlefield, where the distance between life and death is only a hair's breadth: “No guns, just shoulders to carry the wounded and ammunition", but with all their hearts and love for their homeland and country, with their brave will and spirit of determination to fight and sacrifice for the Fatherland, they defied fierce enemy bullets, not afraid of danger, and charged forward:"Long journey adds fire to the attack"”. The most impressive is the image.“The pride in your eyes is strange.”It is that strange pride and confidence that is the extraordinary strength that helps them overcome all dangers, complete their missions and defeat their enemies.

Metaphor in the verse: "Oh! Flowers blooming in the battlefield”is an artistic creation of the poet, making the poem rich in expressive value. The female youth volunteers are likened to beautiful, gentle flowers but extremely resilient and strong. With their slender shoulders in"faded shirt with double patches", but miraculously, they were still as beautiful as flowers blooming on the battlefield.

“Flowers on the front line”, “Youth volunteers”, “Flowers blooming on the battlefield”Although the names are different, they all focus on one subject, highlighting the wonderful beauty of the young female volunteers on the fierce battlefield. With a praising tone, the poem "Flowers on the Fire Line" by author Do Trung Quan has carved out an unusually beautiful Vietnamese figure.

With authentic, familiar and affectionate language and images, through the hardships of the fierce battlefield, the poem highlights the simple, rustic beauty and the strong will and courage of the female youth volunteers. The author expresses admiration, pride, respect and gratitude to those who have sacrificed their blood and bones to gain independence and freedom for the Fatherland.

NGUYEN THI BINH
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Unusually beautiful 'flowers' on the fire line