Authors – Works

The soldier's heart moved by the memory of his teacher

LE THANH VAN November 28, 2024 14:07

The poem "Before my first grade teacher" by Nguyen Dinh Anh is a soldier's emotional voice, sent to his old teacher.

nnnnnIN FRONT OF MY FIRST GRADE TEACHER

More than ten years in school
How can I remember all the friends and teachers?
The image of my first grade teacher
Makes my heart restless...

My teacher taught me to write the first letter "a".
“When you finish writing the flat circle, remember to add the hook!”
I moved my pen along the lines the teacher had drawn.
My hand was shaking so the strokes were off…

He gently took my hand.
Teach which stroke to draw next, which stroke to write first
And so gradually I learned to read.
Then cheer when you write your name!...

More than ten years of warmth under the school roof
More than ten years have passed, carrying a backpack and holding a gun.
Many nights of marching, many days of searching and fighting
So much suffering and happiness, sadness and joy, and some lost, some still alive...

I came back - I thought I was still young
Look in the mirror and see two types of hair.
I rushed to visit my teacher - but he had passed away.
Grass grows all around the grave - too green becomes carefree!

I wrote envelopes to friends near and far.
Why haven't I had time to write a word to you?
And now before the spirit of the deceased teacher
I know what to do to make up for my mistakes!

NGUYEN DINH ANH

Through the pen of Nguyen Dinh Anh, the image of the teacher appears so gentle and close, recalling beautiful memories of school, of childhood, especially the endless regret when that teacher passed away. The work is both simple and profound, full of images and emotions, making the reader feel nostalgic and tormented.

The poem begins with memories of childhood and the first lessons. Then, the poem moves on to the harsh experiences of soldiers on the battlefield, and ends with endless regret when returning to visit their teacher but it is too late. In particular, the structure of the poem contributes to highlighting the emotions of the lyrical character of the author. From simple, sincere memories to painful, regretful ones, each verse is like a journey, a step in the flow of time. Emotions also gradually change, initially innocent, then haunting, tormenting, and finally remorseful, regretful to the extreme.

In his nostalgic memories, poet Nguyen Dinh Anh skillfully used specific, evocative images to highlight memorable moments of his old teacher. The image of “the first letter a" and the teacher's reminder, "When the flat circle is finished, remember to add the hook!" are vivid details, specifically recreating the image of a devoted, meticulous teacher patiently guiding each stroke of the letter to the little student.

The poem "I moved my pen along the lines the teacher had drawn/ My hand was shaking so the lines went out of line." is a beautiful, authentic image, showing the close and sacred relationship between teacher and student. The words not only create an impressive picture of childhood, but also deeply engrave the great feelings about the teacher with a tolerant, gentle, and caring heart towards the little student.

In particular, details “He gently took my hand." is a subtle highlight, highlighting the warm emotions of the teacher's heart. The "gentleness" here is not only a physical action, but also the way the teacher cherishes and respects the innocence of children. With just a small detail, Nguyen Dinh Anh has portrayed the image of a gentle, patient teacher, teaching students not only with knowledge but also with love and tolerance.

The special point in the poem is the contrast between two periods of time: childhood when studying at school and adulthood when joining the army to fight and peace returns to visit old teachers. The first period is the days of going to school, when everything is innocent and pure. The image "more than ten years in school"reminiscent of the joyful student life. In contrast to that is the time"more than ten years of backpacking and gun-holding", brings a completely different color scheme, fierce, filled with sad and happy memories, suffering and loss.

The space of childhood associated with the school and the gentle teacher contrasts with the space of the soldier in the harsh battlefield. Details "many nights marching, many days searching for and fighting the enemy"shows that a difficult life has trained the student to become a resilient soldier. However, the soldier's heart always retains the image of his teacher with beautiful memories that never fade:

He gently took my hand.

Teach which stroke to draw next, which stroke to write first

And so gradually I learned to read.

Then cheer when you write your name!...

At the end of the poem, the author uses a sincere, regretful, and sorrowful tone to express the lyrical character's remorse. After years away from home, when he returned, the teacher had passed away, and the image“The grass grows all around the grave - too green makes one carefree!”both evokes loneliness and brings out feelings of loss and regret.

The poem emphasizes many unique details, thus making a strong impression and haunting the reader. Details“I have written letters to friends near and far/Why haven't I had time to write a single word to my teacher?”is a sincere self-reproach, when the feelings for the teacher were not expressed in time. Therefore, the last verse of the poem is like a sob, a suppressed pain, bursting out and unable to be concealed:

I wrote envelopes to friends near and far.

Why haven't I had time to write a word to you?

And now before the spirit of the deceased teacher

I know what to do to make up for my mistakes!

Overall view of art and poetic language in“Before my first grade teacher" by Nguyen Dinh Anh is very simple, close, not flowery but contains sincere, passionate emotions. The author used familiar words, not needing to be elaborate but easily touching people's hearts. The verses not only bring up images but also bring about moods, so that readers can easily sympathize and understand. Words such as "tormented", "trembling hands", "holding my hand" ... have created closeness in the way of expression, at the same time highlighting the true, vivid reminiscence, bringing readers back to the early days of life with green, shy emotions and infinite gratitude to the teacher.

“In front of my first grade teacher”is a gentle but profound poem about the teacher-student relationship, about the past and sweet memories but also full of pain and sorrow. Nguyen Dinh Anh has succeeded in recreating the image of the teacher not only in memory, but also becoming a symbol of gratitude and respect.

LE THANH VAN
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The soldier's heart moved by the memory of his teacher