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An autumn full of romance and lyricism has become a familiar subject in poetry. Huu Thinh—a writer who matured from the military, with gentle yet profound verses—has brought readers touching and lingering emotions before the land and sky. Through creativity, a sensitive soul to the surroundings, and finesse in word usage, the author has created a painting of “Sang thu” that is both familiar and novel.

“Sang thu” with the theme of autumn nature, combined with the core inspiration of emotions and soul vibrations in the face of nature in the late summer amidst fire and smoke, highlights its artistic uniqueness, word creativity, and metaphorical, personified imagery to accentuate the lyrical subject mentioned in the poem—autumn.

If Xuan Dieu used the “dreamy fade” color of leaves to signal autumn, Huu Thinh perceives it through the “guava fragrance,” a familiar scent in the Vietnamese countryside: Suddenly realizing the guava fragrance/ Wafting in the mild wind. The strong verb “wafting” implies a strong, enveloping release. The artist does not describe but evokes the reader's imagination of the golden, fragrant “guava fragrance” spreading in the “mild wind” of the late summer, early autumn.

The next sign is the image of autumn mist when Dew is leisurely at the gate/ It seems autumn has arrived. The autumn mist is personified through the visual onomatopoeia “leisurely,” depicting poetic, rather slow steps bringing autumn to the country. The word “wafting” aligns with “arrived,” creating gentle, dreamy, and evocative rhythms akin to the feelings that autumn brings. The first stanza perceived by Huu Thinh through multi-sensory methods, creatively showcases the distinct features of autumn arriving in a peaceful homeland.

The artistic space of the “Sang thu” painting expands, in the height and vastness of the sky with flying birds and floating clouds, extending along the river in the second stanza:

The ripple takes its time

Birds begin to hurry

A summer-colored cloud

Half-soaring into autumn

The autumn river in Northern land is calm, serene, and full, hence “lazily,” gently flowing as if deliberately slowing to fully appreciate the beauty of nature as autumn sets in. Opposing the “lazy” stream is the “hurried” flock of birds flying south to escape the cold. These birds remind one of Nguyen Khuyen's mention of geese in “Thu Vinh”: What sound is that above, of waterfowl geese? The river, bird wings, and autumn clouds are all personified. The author uses the verb “half-soaring” for the clouds, as if they were placed horizontally in the sky, hanging down, suggesting playfulness, wittiness, and assertiveness. These four verses capture subtle shifts of the scenery from summer to autumn. Each scene has its distinct feature but together forms an idyllic autumnal scene.

The echoes of summer remain: the sunlight, the rains, the thunder claps, yet all have become gentler, more harmonious, no longer sudden and harsh. Simultaneously, the author’s reflections on life are conveyed through such gentle verses.

There is still some sunlight

The rain has lessened gradually

Thunder is also less surprising

Among age-old trees

Autumn sunlight, rain, and thunder are subtly felt by Huu Thinh in the transition: from summer to autumn. The phrases “still, gradually less, less surprising” beautifully depict the duration and presence of objects and nature like autumn sunlight, autumn rain, and early autumn thunder. Summer seems to hold on. Summer sunlight, rain, and thunder seem to linger on trees and the sky. Observing the transition scenery, the poet's reflections on life emerge. “Thunder” and “age-old trees” are metaphors forming the connotative meaning of “Sang thu.” Sunlight, rain, and thunder symbolize nature's fluctuations, representing changes, challenges, and trials in life. The image “age-old tree” is a metaphor for experienced individuals, tempered through various hardships.

“Sang thu” is a beautiful poem by Huu Thinh. Many emotions surge through the lovely, lyrical, poetic verses. The poet does not use the paintbrush to sketch vibrant autumn scenes and colors. With just a few strokes, he minimally describes but evokes much more, bringing forth a gentle, pure, serene, and vast autumn soul... filled with poetic charm.