We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track. If this problem persists help us by reporting it so we can investigate it.
Watch this talk
Login or create a free account to watch this talk and discover other teachings from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
Log in or create an account
Poetry of Peace
In the sacred moment of New Year’s Eve, our hearts are moved with longing for our loved ones, yet we cannot hold on; we must let them go in freedom and offer our whole heart in support on the path that leads to happiness. Yasodhara understood that Siddhartha had a great aspiration; every attempt to bind him was in vain, replaced instead by deep love and understanding. Letting go not only liberates the one who departs, but also expresses true love, for even a fragrance or a ray of sunlight cannot be kept, let alone a human being.
Vietnamese youth in the years 1940–45 also shared the yearning to devote themselves to the ideal of the nation. The poignant sorrow of parting was awakened through these representative poems:
- “Farewell Journey” by Thâm Tâm – a metaphor for the restless waves of the heart when sending someone off who has not yet crossed to the other shore.
- The song of Jing Ke and Yu Zheng – the cold wind of the Yi River, the hero departs without sharing the merit.
-
“Journey South” by Nguyễn Bính – hardships and wandering, the bitterness like the taste of wine, yet still nurturing one’s aspiration.
These verses awakened consciousness, transforming personal sorrow into the flame of sacrifice for independence, while at the same time opening the path to nourish the spirit through poetry and mindfulness, so that one’s aspiration may be sustained amidst the storms of life.