Whisper to your children about love of country

Poet Nguyen Si Dai was born in 1956 in his hometown of Ha Tinh. He once participated in the war against America. Coming to poetry quietly and humbly, Nguyen Si Dai's works leave a unique mark in the hearts of readers. Each verse of Nguyen Si Dai's poems is simple and profound like the man himself. It is a rustic melody; a passionate love for the homeland; emotions about the country and people; the thoughts of a soldier. In those throbbing pages of poetry, we encounter a love song "Fatherland" with so much nostalgia that evokes in readers many thoughts about deep feelings for the Vietnamese people.

This is a gift full of emotions that the author dedicates to his two sons. The poem consists of 7 stanzas, written in free verse but not too unrestrained, the rhythm of the poem is gentle and smooth. Right at the beginning, it states the definition of the Fatherland:“... The motherland is when the mother gives birth to her child/Has a straight nose, skin as yellow as the sun...”.

From ancient times to the present, the Fatherland is often placed in a close emotional relationship with the people, built over many generations, preserved and left behind. However, in this work, Nguyen Si Dai has a very new concept of the Fatherland, it is specific, close but very dear and simple. "The Fatherland" is defined in a very personal way starting from the most important event in each person's life "when the mother gives birth to her child". This emphasizes that love and connection with the Fatherland begins from the first moments of life.

You came into this world with the characteristics and appearance of “A straight nose” and “skin as yellow as the sun”. These are familiar characteristics that show pride in the traditional beauty of the Vietnamese people, and at the same time affirm that every person born carries within them the mark of the Fatherland. You were born with the help of “neighbors”, with the fire of the kitchen warming your heart. The precious personal pronoun “I” in the last verse is the basis for the following verse to be elevated and have a higher generalization.

In childhood, who has not heard fairy tales "once upon a time". My son is the same, he was nurtured and grew up from the treasure trove of legends and magical fairy tales:"The child grew up like a bamboo shoot in a fairy tale./The young Vietnamese soul carries the soul of Saint Giong./Kind and gentle Tam/"The meaning of compatriots embracing the sea and mountains".

In just one stanza, the author has mentioned outstanding works in the treasure trove of folk literature. The legend of “Thanh Giong” with the spirit of indomitable national defense. The fairy tale “Tam Cam” praises the heart of compassion. The story “The Legend of Hundred Eggs” explains the origin of the word “compatriots” - brothers born from the same mother. Perhaps, the author uses these images to convey a message about cultural values, ethics and national spirit. These values ​​are the precious heritage that the younger generation needs to inherit and promote in the future.

The Fatherland is not only attached to each individual but it is also the inheritance and continuation of a cultural source rich in national identity:"Is sweet Vietnamese lips/Oh Vietnamese language, so many sad ups and downs/The storks fly into the song/Touching the Kieu page, the Vietnamese language is sparkling".The poem not only honors the beauty and value of the Vietnamese language, but it also deeply depicts the history and cultural identity of the nation. With these specific images, the author has skillfully created a comprehensive picture of the Vietnamese language, a language that contains many ups and downs, and is also an endless source of inspiration for art and literature, the most wonderful crystallization of which is in the masterpiece "The Tale of Kieu" by Nguyen Du.

The definition of the Fatherland has not stopped, it continues to be recreated by the poet through the spring atmosphere and the traditional Tet festival of the Vietnamese people..From the images of gentle “drizzle” to the eager footsteps of going to the festival, from the excitement of the festival to the nostalgic feeling of “January”, “February”, all create a colorful and emotional picture of spring. The poem not only honors the beauty of spring but also conveys the cultural and traditional values ​​of the nation, at the same time expressing the deep feelings of a soul that loves its homeland passionately.

The Fatherland is also a natural landscape of four seasons that nourishes the human soul with simple yet beautiful scenery. The author used the images of "fragrant lotus", "Milky Way", "autumn wind" to create a vivid and romantic picture of nature. Through that, readers can see the harmony between people and nature, bringing a sense of peace from the breath of the homeland.

Finally, the Fatherland is also a “border” and “offshore” area that generations of fathers and grandfathers have spared no effort and blood to explore, cultivate and preserve; through the changes of time and space, the country still exists forever and firmly. But more sacred than all, the Fatherland:“Is the blood of our ancestors flowing forever/Permeates the land, the child, the burning flag/All the most beloved things /Can't be called in words, then call them "Oh Fatherland!".Through the symbol of the red flag with yellow star of the Vietnamese people, the author praised the sacrifices of our ancestors, the love for the homeland and the sacred values ​​that cannot be expressed in words, all encapsulated in the beloved word "Fatherland"!

The poem's tone is gentle and passionate from beginning to end, reading it is like encountering one's own soul in the flow of history of the times. It is a passionate love for the homeland, a respect for traditional values ​​and national history. Even though living in a faraway place, love and nostalgia for the Fatherland always exist in the heart of each person.