The image of the "ferryman of knowledge" in poetry

Teachers are the ones who taught us the first strokes of writing, when holding our hands to shape each stroke, it is not simply teaching us how to write, but also teaching our character. All teachers do is hope that their students will be better and more mature. From these sacred things, when writing about teachers in poetry, there are many sincere, simple, rich in images and extremely touching.

Ever since we heard lullabies and songs from our grandmothers and mothers, we have known the image of a gentle, kind teacher appearing in the poem "My class teacher" by Nguyen Xuan Sanh or the image of a warm, gentle teacher in the poem "The teacher with autumn" by Vu Hanh Tham:

My teacher

As gentle as Tam

Her voice is warm

Like a mother's lullaby"

There is a special thing in poems about the image of teachers, poets always express gratitude and respect. Poet Huu Thinh has a poem "Dear teacher" which won first prize in a poetry contest organized by the Ministry of Universities and Vocational Secondary Schools (now the Ministry of Education and Training) in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union . "Dear teacher" those two sacred words are attached to all those who have a time going to school. The image of the teacher appears: "Life is so fast, the teacher's hair is covered in smoke/ The lesson plan is immense, the storms of everyday life/ The tree in front of the door is outside the notebook/ The teacher struggles alone with literature" . The contrasting images sow in our hearts so much compassion and sharing.

Also writing about the teacher, the poet Vo Thanh An confides in his teacher in a different way: “Yes, teacher” with a narrative poetic voice full of calm contemplation and self-questioning humility. “Yes, teacher” is a careful greeting but also a confession to share with his beloved teacher about his current life and the teacher as a support on the path of life.

When writing about teachers, perhaps the child prodigy Tran Dang Khoa is one of the most successful authors, because for students, the image of a teacher is vivid and intimate, always a shining example for them to follow. Teachers not only teach letters but also teach moral lessons. That is the image of a wounded teacher who left a part of his flesh and blood on the battlefield, to return to his old school to impart knowledge to his students. That is clearly shown in the poem “Teacher’s Feet”: The teacher sat on the chair lecturing/ A pair of wooden crutches placed next to the table/ Where is one of his feet/ We don’t know” . And from there, Tran Dang Khoa realized something greater: “We recognized the teacher’s feet/ Like recognizing the imperfection of our lives”. And the poem “Listening to the teacher read poetry” contains in it so much beauty of the country’s nature, of the love of people that sowed in the hearts of the children the purity of the Vietnamese language: “I listened to the teacher read for so many days/ The red poetry, the green sunlight, the trees forgot home”. And then: “Dear the singing and the smile/ Loving poetry, I see the land and sky become more beautiful”.

Then the image of female teachers who are day and night "carrying letters" up the high mountains to bring letters to remote villages in the poem "I go" by poet Le Dinh Canh: "I go to sow letters in the forest / I have experienced sweet bamboo shoots, I have experienced sourness". The situation of female teachers in the highlands is full of hardships, not only lacking in material things but also the desire for love and affection: "In the forest, we sing lullabies to each other / My sister's betel leaves wither, my sister's areca nuts grow old / I wish to have a house / At noon, I will swing a hammock to welcome my grandmother to come and play" . The dream is so simple and practical, but they have overcome it: "I go with a hat touching the sky / The village sows letters with a melodious voice" .

Yes, teachers are silent warriors, tirelessly collecting knowledge day and night to nurture the next generation to blossom and bear fruit. Teachers have given wings to countless generations to fly high and far to their own horizons of dreams and ambitions. How can we repay the immense contributions of teachers? With love for the profession and love for children, teachers have worked tirelessly day and night to nurture the young buds of the country. When we grow up, the baggage each of us carries with us will never forget the merits of our teachers. Those are the first lessons for us to confidently step into life:

Father's rice, mother's clothes, teacher's words

Educate from childhood to adulthood

Growing up, I will never forget your kindness.

Gratitude to teachers

A teacher's life is only filled with love and concern

Enlighten mind and teach to become a good person

The teacher is like a shining torch

I vow to remember and never forget.

(Folk songs)

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-van-nghe-the-thao/hinh-anh-nguoi-lai-do-tri-thuc-trong-thi-ca-6mn7yfiDg.html