July is coming, filled with longing...

“I leave with a heavy oath…”

More than a week ago, his family members, relatives and neighbors sent off Mr. Nguyen Van Duyet in Nhan Thap village, Hong Long commune (Nam Dan) to his final resting place. As a 103-year-old revolutionary veteran with a 75-year Party membership badge, Mr. Duyet lived a life full of loyalty to the Party.country, home and family.

Portrait of martyr Nguyen Viet Lam. Photo: GĐCC

However, the grief of his children and relatives seemed to increase many times when, before returning to his ancestors, he still had no news about the grave of his son - martyr Nguyen Viet Lam. Because, for more than half a century, that father had spent a lot of time searching and waiting for information about his son.sacrificein the southern battlefield but no news.

The father struggled to overcome pain and illness to go through more than a century, waiting for the day to bring his son’s remains back home. But then, when his strength was exhausted, like a lamp running out of oil, Mr. Nguyen Van Duyet could not wait any longer…

A few days before he passed away, Mr. Duyet's hands still tightly held the piece of paper with the poem of his martyr son. This was the only keepsake of martyr Nguyen Viet Lam, which was brought back to his family by his comrades after Lam's death. The poem can be considered a letter from a soldier, in which there is a message of love from a son inbattlefieldwith parents and family in the rear. And higher is the heart, will and determination of a son of Nghe An when the Fatherland is in danger.

Poem written by martyr Nguyen Viet Lam before his death. Photo: GĐCC

The poem was composed on February 27, 1970 with simple but very sincere and touching verses: “The Party has given me eyes/Even if it takes a moment to live or die/My parents' words are heard in my ears/I cannot sit still and watch the South burn/My blood is burning hot/I look up at the liberation flag/My heart is filled with sadness, missing my mother and father...”.

At the end of his poem, soldier Nguyen Viet Lam expressed his belief and determination to fight to reach the final victory: “I left with a heavy oath/To defeat the American invaders, I returned to my homeland."Therefore, in the poem, the son's feelings for his family and the soldier's responsibility for his country are shown.Fatherlandtightly intertwined, making anyone who reads it moved and choked up.

The pain and longing of a mother at her son's grave at the Vietnam - Laos Martyrs Cemetery (Anh Son). Photo: Cong Kien

The son's poem was cherished and carefully kept by Mr. Nguyen Van Duyet. More than 50 years have passed but the handwriting is still clear. And when he was about to leave, the father still did not want to let go of the letter.souvenirthe only son who fell on the battlefield. Witnessing that scene, no one could hold back their tears…

“Please leave a smile next to your mother's betel box”

Also bearing the pain of war, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong (82 years old) in Hong Son village, Tho Son commune (Anh Son) was luckier than Mr. Nguyen Van Duyet when she found her son's grave in the South. Mrs. Phuong's son - martyr Nguyen Van Luan (born in 1960) sacrificed in 1983 on the Cambodian battlefield, in a battle with the remnants of Pol Pot's army.

Death certificate of martyr Nguyen Van Luan. Photo: GĐCC

The death certificate clearly stated that martyr Luan was buried atCemeteryMui Nai - Ha Tien - Kien Giang. Later, the family went to Kien Giang several times to look for the grave but had no information, each time was a disappointment. That made Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong even more sad and withered because of the days of waiting for news of her son.

According to Nguyen Van Linh (born in 1979) - the youngest son of Mr. Phuong, his mother had a habit of standing in front of the door every day as if waiting for someone to return. Then on cold nights, in her deep sleep, Mr. Phuong always called out the name of her fallen son. Loving his mother, despite the difficult circumstances, Mr. Linh went to the southwestern border several times to find his brother's grave.

Veterans of the 320th Division Liaison Committee in Nghe An - Ha Tinh participate in the construction of the Monument House at Height 1049, Sa Thay District (Kon Tum). Photo: CK

After many times of searching, with deep emotions, Nguyen Van Linh wrote the poem "Finding Him". The poem depicts the image of an old mother who is always in pain, missing and waiting for news of her sacrificed son; it is also the author's own heart for his fallen brother and hopes for a "miracle" in life so that his parents can somewhat ease their grief.pain.

Therefore, the poems were written with all my heart:“…You left when the country called your name/After the battle, why didn't you come back to your mother?/Why didn't you send news, even just a few short lines?/Leaving your mother waiting, her areca nut bunches withering.../Where is your 80-year-old mother, her quick steps/Only her trembling hands and her distant, dim eyes remain/Even though time has buried deep things/But I know your sad heart is still waiting for news/Where are you?/Do you hear your mother's heart beating every night/Your mother's cough, her mumbling, calling you in the dark night”.

Mr. Nguyen Van Linh at the grave of his brother (martyr Nguyen Van Luan). Photo: GĐCC

The last verses are rich in imagery and evocative, touching the heart of every person:Please come back even if it's in the mist/Let your mother smile even if it's in her dreams/Oh Fatherland!/Sacred Fatherland, please show me where you lie/Please let your smile be next to your mother's betel box...”.

In 2019, Nguyen Van Linh continued his journey and found his brother's grave at the cemetery.martyrsRach Gia - Kien Giang. “After finding Luan’s grave, my mother felt much more excited, healthier, moved around more actively and helped her children and grandchildren with some housework. However, due to internal injuries for so long, my mother’s memory has deteriorated a lot, sometimes remembering and forgetting, and reality and illusion are mixed up. His grave is still in Kien Giang, so every day my mother still sits in front of the house waiting,” said Linh.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Phuong has a habit of sitting in front of her house anxiously waiting... Photo: CK

Peace has returned to our homeland and country for nearly 50 years, but the pain of war still exists in many families whose loved ones died to write the song of victory. July has come again, millions of families are moved to tears...