Fragrant season

(GLO) - These are the days when the earth and sky are in full bloom, full of poetic fragrance. The fields are fragrant with the color of sunshine. The gardens are fragrant with the scent of raindrops. And there's more - the captivating aroma of fresh green rice flakes, of ripe persimmons, of golden-yellow starfruit... creating unique treats of autumn.

1.

These days, every time I scroll through Facebook, my attention is drawn more to photos or videos of autumn treats. Here's a package of soft, fragrant, jade-green Vong village sticky rice cakes wrapped in lotus leaves, next to a couple of ripe bananas. Here's a branch of persimmons laden with ripe red fruit, placed in a rustic ceramic vase, adding a touch of warmth and the essence of autumn. After all, isn't the persimmon considered a symbol of autumn, of happiness? That's why someone once said that a single fresh persimmon is enough to brighten the beautiful season.

However, the treat that captivated me the most was the persimmon. The persimmon, straight from my grandmother's stories, now sat in the basket hanging above my bed after a market day. When I was a child, every time my grandmother went to the market in autumn, she would buy me a few golden persimmons, glistening in the sunlight.

Persimmons ripen and release their fragrant aroma in the autumn. Photo: TB

My grandmother said that the most precious thing about persimmons is their fragrance, something to admire and contemplate. Then, meticulously, she would arrange each strand of thread, painstakingly knitting a small, pretty basket to put the persimmons in and hang it above my bed or by the window. A little older, I learned how to knit baskets from her, replacing the thread with colorful yarn. From then on, autumn for me was not just the season of fragrant persimmons, but also a season of vibrant colors, a season that touches upon cherished memories.

The other day, I ordered some persimmons. The seller's message made my heart ache: "Early season waxy persimmons, sold by the kilogram. Rest assured, for distant orders, we'll select green ones; they'll be ripe and fragrant when you receive them." Suddenly, memories flooded back, bringing with them a wave of emotion.

I softly hummed the verses from the poem "Speaking to You" by poet Vu Quan Phuong: "If you close your eyes and listen to your grandmother tell stories / You will see fairies / See the little boy with seven-league boots / The fragrant persimmon, the kind Cinderella / If you close your eyes and think of your parents / Who raised you day by day / Carrying you in their arms, working hard day and night / Your eyes close, then open again."

Interestingly, as season after season passes by, the scent of the persimmon tree sinks deep into my memories, painting a landscape of recollections. Therefore, there are things I always know for sure I can never forget. Like the innocent and pure love of my school days. Like the love for my family, my homeland, my roots...

2.

Late in the afternoon, as the wind subtly carried the chill of the season, I leisurely drove down to An Phu vegetable village for a visit. The vast fields stretched out, the vibrant green of the vegetable rows blending with the clear blue sky, creating an expansive view. Walking barefoot through the fields, I felt the soft warmth of the earth intertwined with the desolate beauty of the clumps of grass turning yellow. Occasionally, the strong fragrance of tender basil wafted on the breeze. The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful.

Walking along the edge of the fields, I took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh, clean scent. My eyes were drawn to the green canopy of avocado trees laden with fruit. A few more steps, and a purple guava tree appeared before me.

Purple guavas add color and fragrance to the season. Photo: TB

When asked, the woman diligently cutting vegetables nearby explained that the avocado tree was planted by her father as a way of marking the family's ownership of the land, providing shade during breaks while working in the fields and bearing delicious fruit. The purple guava tree, she said, was also planted a few years ago, its branches now tall and bearing sweet fruit.

Picking a ripe guava from the tree, I savored the flavor of the season. My heart swelled with a wistful longing as I touched the purplish-red hues of the leaves and fruit, and inhaled its rich aroma. Seeing my admiration, the landlady smiled and said that guava blossoms also have a purplish hue, which is very lovely. Her words made me imagine a dream garden of purple guavas. If this purple guava variety were cultivated into an orchard, it might become an attractive destination for many people, including me.

Isn't it true that An Phu today was formed at the beginning of the 20th century by our ancestors from Binh Dinh who traveled north to the highlands, choosing Phu Tho and An My to clear land and establish villages, building their lives through vegetable and rice cultivation? Together they created a lowland village in the heart of the Central Highlands, rich in cultural identity. The green landscape of An Phu thus took shape and form. Therefore, if that green landscape were adorned with the fragrant blossoms of purple guava trees, it would surely be even more beautiful.

And, from then on, autumn became even more fragrant...

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/mua-thom-post564566.html