Memories of the rows of casuarina trees along the Nha Trang coastline of yesteryear remain vivid in my mind – a child who grew up, matured, and became deeply connected to this coastal land, to the rows of casuarina trees that provided shade on the long sandy beaches. The casuarina trees also served as a "shield" protecting the coastal fishing villages, safeguarding the people from harsh natural disasters for generations.
My childhood memories are deeply etched in my mind: the verdant green of casuarina trees blanketing the undulating sand dunes that stretched along the Nha Trang beach. Back then, my house was right by the sea; walking through the rows of casuarina trees meant you could dive into the ocean every morning and evening. We children grew up covered in beach sand, chasing crabs in the scorching summer sun, and then, exhausted, seeking shade to play hide-and-seek in the breezy casuarina forest.
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In those days, the barren sandy soil could only hold back the hardworking, resilient casuarina trees. As children, our favorite thing was to go play in the casuarina forest. Though thin and gaunt, the trees persevered, stretching long and wide with each passing year. We climbed the sturdy, flexible branches, gazing out at the distant sea. The blue waves lapped peacefully, and small fishing boats drifted far out. Sitting on a casuarina branch, looking back, I always saw my village and homeland as truly peaceful. The evening smoke, thick with the scent of dry casuarina leaves, seemed to paint a picture of a prosperous life, floating towards the sky. Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow through, causing the rows of casuarina trees to rustle and whisper. In that familiar sound, I felt as if I could hear the breath of the sand, of the sea, its rich, salty scent.
Childhood was full of dreams and aspirations. Many times, when we were sad, we would write our simple wishes on paper and hang them on the small branches of the casuarina trees. The next morning, running up to the sand dunes, we wondered where our wishes had flown to? Remembering the pretty, round letters in purple ink, we told each other that surely the casuarina tree had sent those wishes to the vast sky...
To plant casuarina trees, we had to dig up saplings and plant them in the backyard, then uproot them and replant them when the rainy season came. Day after day, the casuarina trees grew taller than us without us even realizing it. Each time a casuarina tree stood firm in the sandy soil, our hearts swelled with joy.
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Growing up, we witnessed the raging storms of the monsoon season, threatening to blow away the small houses along the coast. But then, the storms gradually subsided, and everything became peaceful again, except for the rows of casuarina trees along the coast, weary and withered after hours of bravely shielding and protecting the land. For so many years, the casuarina forest has sheltered and embraced the memories of countless generations. The casuarina tree is also a friend to seafarers. I've heard many stories from the elders about how, when boats encountered fog or storms, they would look towards the casuarina trees to find their way to shore.
Back then, life was difficult, and almost all families used casuarina wood as fuel for their daily lives. Every summer, we children would follow our parents to collect firewood from casuarina branches and leaves, carry it home, and dry it. Then we would bundle the branches and leaves to use as fuel for the stove. The leaves were tightly packed into the sawdust stove instead of sawdust, giving it a very special aroma when cooked. In the summer, we children would often create small huts or make comfortable leaf beds from the piles of drying casuarina leaves in the yard.
We grew up surrounded by rows of casuarina trees on the beloved sand dunes. The innocence of childhood was tinged with the worries and anxieties of a busy life. As we matured, each of us moved to different places to build our careers, but the memories of our homeland, of our childhood by the casuarina forest along the coast, remain vivid. Each time we return, we still feel the same warmth and familiarity when strolling along Nha Trang beach, even though the scenery has changed considerably with the development of this tourist city. The once dense casuarina forests have now become coastal parks where city residents and tourists can relax and exercise daily. Within these parks, neatly trimmed casuarina trees, in various beautiful shapes, add a touch of greenery and beauty to the city's coastal areas.
Now, sitting on a stone bench under the casuarina trees, amidst the roaring waves that lull us into awe, I listen to the rustling of the green casuarina trees on the sandy hills of my homeland. The roots of the casuarina trees intertwine, embracing each familiar clod of earth; their weathered brown trunks have witnessed countless ups and downs and changes over the years. Within each of us lies a sense of pride in the city's aspirations for development, and within that joy remains a vivid memory of the years of building and progressing our homeland beneath the beloved casuarina forest.
LE THI BICH NGOC
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