The two words "late summer" evoke a gentle, nostalgic feeling. Late summer means days with less intense, scorching sunshine. The sun fades on the golden blossoms at the street corner, on the last rows of crape myrtle trees, their purple hues fading. Every year, it's a sign that nature is preparing to usher in a gentle, delicate autumn. We immerse ourselves in the joyful days of late summer, savoring every moment. We no longer hear complaints or grumbles about the excessively harsh sun. Nor do we see anyone wary or hesitant to avoid the sun. They stroll freely and leisurely, enjoying the soft, radiant golden sunlight of late summer…
The late summer days are pleasantly cool. Rain comes in more frequently towards the end of the day, compensating for the months of drought that nature has endured. A slight heat rushes in, but only for a moment before a refreshing coolness envelops the entire space. These days, the countryside is even more beloved for its fresh, peaceful air, free from dust, pollution, and noise. Walking amidst the vast open fields or sitting quietly on a patch of grass by the roadside feels like being soothed and refreshed. We daydream about clusters of ripe, fragrant starfruit hanging high above, along with the incessant chirping of sparrows. We feel as if we've wandered into a dream world as delicate white cosmos flowers adorn the path, their centers sparkling with golden stamens. Every blade of grass, every wildflower, fills us with so much joy and love for life.
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| Illustration: Tra My |
The late summer days are when we are immersed in the sweet season of fruits. Ripe plums, red and tangy, with a sweet and sour taste. Fragrant mangoes, each one swaying golden, waiting to be picked. Lychees and longans, overflowing with ripe fruit. Under the summer sky, a daughter approaching thirty playfully wanders into the garden, reminiscing about her childhood. Her elderly mother, her hair already streaked with gray, gazes at her daughter affectionately. The two walk hand in hand through the garden, picking fruit and sitting under a tree to enjoy the delicious harvest. The daughter whispers to her mother, reminiscing about the past, wishing to return to this place when she is old, to the late summer days that embraced her.
In the final days of summer, the children wistfully put aside their games and carefree fun, preparing to welcome a new school year filled with aspirations, igniting knowledge and reaching for greater heights. There's a buzz of excitement as they proudly share their brand-new textbooks. Those from wealthier families even receive new clothes and shoes. Time flies so fast; summer still lingers in their golden hair, in the afternoons spent on the embankment with kites soaring high in the wind. But now, they are about to say goodbye, embarking on a season of knowledge filled with dreams and aspirations… The school bell outside rings loudly…
In the late summer days, my mother indulged her daughter by cooking crab soup with daylily flowers. She no longer had the strength to go out to the fields to catch crabs like she used to; now she just went to the market to buy them quickly. Daylily flowers were readily available in our garden, climbing the trellises above the chicken and pigsties, their fragrant blossoms swaying in the breeze. The combination of crab soup and daylily flowers, seemingly incompatible, turned out to be surprisingly delicious. Add a bowl of pickled eggplant for a crunchy crunch, and it was perfect. That simple meal, yet we long for it and miss it terribly.
These last days of summer, words cannot fully express the feelings of the present and the past. Let me leave behind these cherished, pure memories of the last days of summer, so that when we recall them in the future, we will love these moments even more…
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202506/nhung-ngay-cuoi-ha-ffb0f21/
