Missing the autumn moon...

(AI)

Unlike the dazzling golden light of the Lantern Festival in January, which has inspired countless poets with its endless stream of verses, the full moon of the eighth lunar month in autumn possesses its own unique and enchanting allure. In the cool, transitional weather, gentle breezes rustle through the swaying coconut trees in the courtyard. The wind lifts the moon high, casting a soft, golden-blue light that evokes a sense of both reality and illusion, a feeling of distance and closeness, no less enchanting than the autumn moon.

The shimmering full moon on an autumn night evokes countless childhood memories. Moonlit nights were eagerly awaited by rural children like us. Back then, there was no electricity in the countryside. Under the bright moonlight, the children from the neighboring villages would gather to play, sing loudly, and when they were tired of playing, everyone would go home.

Unable to sleep early, my sisters and I would often ask our grandfather to tell us stories of old times, fairy tales... Under the autumn moonlight, gentle breezes caressed us, and the scent of laurel wafted from the veranda, with its tiny, delicate white flowers seemingly eager to join us children, captivated by our grandfather's slow, warm voice.

It's strange to think that, in my childish mind at the time, I imagined him as if he were in some kind of fairy tale world ... He sipped his tea, fanning himself with a bamboo fan, his silver beard fluttering in the golden moonlight. I closed my eyes, pretending to fall asleep, secretly savoring the magical feeling of the peaceful autumn moonlit night, like a dream that seemed destined to never return.

The autumn moon is always enchanting and inviting, but perhaps only the full moon of the eighth lunar month is most eagerly awaited by children. They get to play with lanterns and excitedly wait for the feast, where they can eat as much sweet soup, sticky rice, and cakes as they want. The lanterns are mostly homemade from empty beer and soda cans. Those with nimble hands make them into the shapes of stars, carp, lotus flowers, and butterflies with pretty fringed edges. As night falls, the cool breeze blows, and the moon shines brighter as it rises higher...

The ethereal, pure beauty of the autumn moon still evokes a sense of distant nostalgia, a melancholic feeling. Stars twinkle high above. Banana trees and coconut palms rustle in the wind, and somewhere, the startled, solitary cries of nocturnal birds fill the late night sky. Under the thatched roof of the countryside, children quickly fall asleep after moments of carefree play. The crescent moon peeks through the window, a gentle breeze caressing and soothing their childhood dreams.

Time flies by so quickly; before we knew it, the children of yesteryear have grown up. Life's crossroads await us, and the struggle for survival has caused the autumn moon of our childhood nights to fade from our memories. The simple, handcrafted star-shaped and carp-shaped lanterns of the past have been replaced by modern, sophisticated, and colorful electronic lanterns powered by batteries.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived again. The countryside is different now; modern conveniences have reached even the smallest villages. Children today are captivated by the alluring games on their smartphones, and the fairy-tale figures of the mythical figures of the Moon Goddess are gone. But the autumn moon remains, forever casting its silent, loving gaze!

Tinh Binh

Source: https://baolongan.vn/thuong-nho-trang-thu--a203645.html