SONG HUONG –THE RIVER OF MEMORABLE SONGS

I wanted to share with you about my feeling of previous visit to Hue

I remembered that six year ago, when I and my family came to Hue, I did feel peaceful as this is an original family’s homeland which is connected closely with my ancestors’ lives. Sensation of peacefulness is because of slow pace of life, hospital face of my Hue’s cousins and especially poetic nature of Song Huong (Perfume River) or Nui Ngu Binh (Mount Royal Screen).
Here in Huong River, at the fist time, I had a chance to listen songs of Hue from a small sampan of a fishing family. Unlike a big boat with a lot of noise and colorful limelight, in a small and warm environment, we could hear sweet and leisure hò mái nhì‘s beats which combined perfectly with waves flapping against the side of a boat. An unforgettable feelings rose when I was enjoying dedicate words of a beautiful Hue’s singer rising amidst the tranquil night with fresh air and bright moon. Her sweet voice really attracted all listeners when she sang one of Hue’s well - known, lyrical and subtle poetry:

Chiều chiều trước bến Văn Lâu
Ai ngồi ai câu
Ai sầu ai thảm
Ai thương ai cảm
Ai nhớ ai mong
Thuyền ai thấp thoáng bên sông
Buông câu mái nhị chạnh lòng nước non

(Evening, before the King’s pavilion:
People are singing, fishing, sad and grieving, loving,
in love, remembering , waiting, watching,
Whose boat piles the river mists?
-offerings so many rowing songs
that move these mountains and rivers, our Nation.
Translation by John Balaban , in “ Vietnamese Folk Poetry” )

The time seems to pause for a while when the songs began and the love of river and rowing songs appeared to blend with mute love of patriotism of every participant. At that time, through their meditative expression, I knew that my family and cousins was recalling their past childhood memories.
Sadly, Hueans with gentleness and gracefulness in their characteristics have often experienced miserable lives which are greatly affected by unstable weather. Maybe patience and determination could help them to go through many hardships and vicissitudes of lives. On September 2009, Typhoon Ketsana swept through the central region (Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai etc.) causing many fatalities and mental & material damages. Many victims endured starvation, sense of homelessness and losing close relatives. At this time, every Vietnamese, regardless of different regions, religions and social class should follow the spirits of known – by heart folk poetry:

Nhiễu điều phủ lấy giá gương
Người trong một nước phải thương nhau cùng.
(As the piece of red crepe covers the mirror,
So fellow countrymen must love one another)