Falling in love with my hometown sea...

Photo: TRIEU PHAM

I was born in the heart of the Central region, sunny, windy and rainy. I spent my childhood with the sea, with the waves day and night tirelessly reaching the shore. Going through the vicissitudes of life, an adult like me or anyone else would realize: Origins are not easily erased. Therefore, the child that I am now still clearly remembers the first years of my life's experiences with the village sea. Stepping from my house to the sea, I slowly walked on a small path with two rows of green willows, with a few cactus bushes. Just like that, I stepped onto the smooth sandy beach, looking far away at the vast ocean surface undulating with waves.

And later, I have walked on the sand many times, not only the sea of ​​my village but also many other seas, but I still never forget the feeling of my bare feet as a child. I remember the sandy beach of my hometown that day as if it had been tolerant, welcoming my feet and the village children who ran and jumped around, playing on the sand throughout my childhood years around the coastal village. I remember the sand castles that we all gathered together to build and then the waves came in and destroyed them in a bewildered regret. I remember the cool sea water, I remember the waves splashing white foam onto the shore, blending with the joyful cheers, the crisp laughter that burst forth the joy of children...

My village used to be close to the sea, about ten minutes walk to the sea. So when summer comes, early morning or late afternoon, the children run to the sea. I still like the morning more, eagerly waiting for the sun to rise on the horizon. The sea seems to turn pink, reflecting the silver waves sparkling on the water surface. And the sand, after last night, seems to soften, the tiny grains of sand are cool under the feet, the early morning wind is gentle and airy. Then looking far away, looking for the sea boats coming to shore with so many fish and the bustling voices and laughter of adults dividing the fish into baskets to go to the market... Just like that, everyone seems to breathe deeply the salty taste, the sound of the waves and wind of the sea and grow up, strengthening their legs forever on the journey of life later. The sea gives childhood dreams aspirations and ambitions like the boat that set sail far away that day...

In total, I have only been attached to the village by the sea for eighteen years, that is, from childhood until I finished high school. Then everyone has their own turning points in life. After going to university and graduating, starting a career in the South, I only occasionally get to return to my hometown during holidays, Tet, and death anniversaries. After all that time, the sea is always in my heart. I came from the sea, so the sea is always in me. In the city in the South, sometimes in my dreams I still see the sea, hear the sound of the waves. And I think, parents, family, relatives, friends, hometown..., each of those "things" has the shape of the sea, the taste of the sea intertwined, attached in my consciousness. I consider it the "salty taste", the privilege of life. Every day walking on the bustling streets after work, I miss and wish to return to my hometown sea more and more. But life forces me to accept, and the sea has taught me courage and perseverance every day. And I promised myself that when I have the chance, I will return to satisfy myself like the song says "The sea remembers your name calling back" (The sea remembers - Trinh Cong Son)...

Today is the last day of my second vacation of the year. Like the past few days, I took the opportunity to go to the beach early in the summer morning with my relatives and friends. The sea was still blue and it was still early, so the space was somewhat quiet. Then the day gradually brightened and the sea became more crowded. I loved listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the sand and the first rays of sunlight shining obliquely on the sparkling water. The sun was like a round, red ball, half hidden on the distant horizon. The sea and sky were vast and vast, open in my blue eyes. Standing in front of the sea, I felt the purity and infinity of nature for humans. Then I absentmindedly remembered the verses "I am not worthy of being the blue sea/ But I want you to be the white sandbank/ The long, flat sandbank/ Reflecting the crystal sunlight..." (Sea - Xuan Dieu) like the vastness of the sea.

I looked back at my hometown fishing village, in the distance the boats were sailing far out to sea. A few groups of children were still playing, mischievously shouting and running after the ball on the sand. I remembered my friends from the village, some of them stayed in the village and the sea all year round, some of them left to make a living like me. So, the generation of fishing villages continues, the source of fishing villages is still silently in the hearts of each person.
No one said the sea has an age. The sea is neither old nor young, nor does it belong to anyone. I softly hummed the love song “The Love Story of the Sea”, silently thanking musician Thanh Tung for writing it for the sea, “The sea has been awake for many nights/ The sea feels a heart inside it…” so touching. “The sea of ​​a time of longing”, I posted that line on my personal Facebook along with a photo I took of the sunrise at the sea this morning. I was making love to the sea of ​​my homeland…

AUTUMN LAKE

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5433/202505/tu-tinh-voi-bien-que-nha-4006933/