'The Soldier and the Rain' by poet To Dong Hai is a short but emotional poem, capturing the image of a soldier in the rain at a fulcrum.
The soldier and the rain
The soldier on the fulcrum
Encountered a sudden downpour
Rain flying around like children
He smiled like a child
The rain is singing, the rain is ringing
The sound of rain falling
Rhythmic like dancing
Rain is flying, rain is gliding
The soldier smiled.
Singing with the rain…
TO DONG HAI
"The Soldier and the Rain" is one of the few poems that the author - poet and musician To Dong Hai (born in 1946, in Hanoi) himself has composed into a song. The poem is not only a story about a sudden rain but also depicts a youthful, optimistic soul and the wonderful harmony between man and nature. Through each stanza, we see a picture that is both simple and pure, reflecting the beautiful soul of the Vietnamese soldier.
The poem may have been composed in the context of the soldier's daily life, when they were on duty at a "fulcrum" - a combat position or base. The sudden rain in the poem may have been a real moment, but it was portrayed through the eyes of an optimistic, life-loving soldier. The rain was no longer a mere weather phenomenon, but became a symbol of freshness, soothing the hardships and difficulties on the battlefield. The author seemed to have a deep understanding of the lives of soldiers, because through each word and image, we could feel the closeness, sincerity and emotion of another aspect of the soldier.
The first stanza opens up a truly poetic and magical space. It is a place where the soldier is performing his normal duties, but today the rain suddenly comes, bringing with it many associations through the innocent eyes of the young soldier:The soldier on the fulcrum/ Suddenly encountered a downpour/ The rain flew around like children/ The soldier smiled as if he were a child.
The image of the soldier appears so close and simple. In the "support" - a familiar space of the soldier, the author lets the rain suddenly come by, bringing freshness and liveliness. The comparison "the rain flying around like children" is not only evocative but also suggestive, making the rain no longer cold but warm and mischievous.
Notably, “the smiling uncle” - a smile that carries youthfulness and optimism, like a return to childhood memories. Through that, we can feel the spirit of the soldier, no matter what the circumstances, they still maintain their innocence and love of life.
In the second stanza, the reader encounters the shimmering and poetic beauty through the magical music of mysterious nature. Everything seems to be dancing and harmonizing together, creating an innocent, youthful picture.: The rain is singing, the rain is ringing/ The sound of falling rain is bustling/ Rhythmically like dancing.
The four lines of poetry are like a piece of music full of sound and movement. The phrase “rain is” is repeated continuously, creating a lively rhythm, like the dancing steps of the raindrops. The images of “rain singing” and “rain ringing” not only show the liveliness of nature but also express the life-loving and optimistic spirit of the soldier, who saw music and dance in the most ordinary phenomena of life.
It is the youthfulness through that perspective that brings the reader to see the beauty of the soul of Uncle Ho's soldier. In particular, the art of personification gives the rain a unique character: the rain is an artist with its own dances and music.
The soldier is not only a witness but also a spectator immersing himself in nature, feeling the joy spreading from the raindrops dancing and cheering merrily.
Closing the work, poet To Dong Hai only used 3 verses to complete the innocent, youthful rain song. That is also the beauty of the harmony between man and nature, so beautiful and complete. The soldier seemed to forget himself, his heart melted into the rain of his youth:The soldier smiled/ Singing with the rain…
Indeed, the soldier did not stop at observing but joined in with the rain, like a companion playing and singing. The gesture of “smiling” repeated a second time, emphasizing the simple joy and harmony of the soldier with nature.
Here, rain is not only a natural phenomenon but also a friend, a spiritual companion of the soldier. The ending is gentle but leaves a deep aftertaste: amidst the hardships of a soldier's life, the small joys from nature are always a great source of encouragement.
Although the poem is short, it is very successful in using simple language, rich in images and sounds. The repetition, personification and vivid descriptions through images make the poem fresh and familiar. The image of the soldier is portrayed differently - not with guns and bullets, hardships but with a young poetic soul, always finding joy in everyday life.
“The Soldier and the Rain” is a beautiful poem, not only in terms of its ideological content but also in terms of its unique humanistic and artistic values. Through the image of the soldier and the rain, To Dong Hai has brought a very poetic message: no matter what the circumstances, the soldier always maintains an optimistic and pure soul. And at that fulcrum, with the sound of rain and smiles, we understand that the soldier still fulfills his duty to protect his homeland and the peace of the Fatherland, while also preserving the poetic and simple beauty of a colorful life.
TRAN HUYEN