Sweet chestnut scent…

Culture and Life – Not as passionate as pomelo flowers, jasmine flowers, no calyx, beautiful in greenhouses like roses, lilies… the chestnut flower still has its own place.

Chestnut trees are often planted in the corner of the yard or garden. Chestnut is a humble tree, accustomed to living a simple life. Many say they often grow on wild hills. But perhaps, ordinary people often encounter them in the familiar living space of an idyllic, rustic countryside with village and neighborly love, with simple and kind people. Looking at the slender tree’s shadow nestled in the wind, I often wonder: If it weren’t for the fragile, slightly curled long-petaled flowers, would anyone notice the existence of that tree in the world? The flowers are like beautiful little lanterns emitting a sweet fragrance, when they are new, they are green, when they have saved enough wind and dew, they will turn into sunny colors, which is a charming and delicate touch that nature created. dedicated to this plant. Chestnut flowers have long, thin, drooping petals, green when new, then turn pale yellow Because they are used to a simple life, even though they are planted in the yard, outside the gate or sometimes forgotten, lying dormant in a corner of the garden, chestnut flowers still radiate fragrance and bloom. Then, every time the wind accidentally passed by, carrying that cool, gentle scent, each person’s soul would give rise to feelings, feelings of restlessness, anxiety, reminiscent of the peaceful and full of peace. memories, nostalgia. From a distance, chestnut flowers look like pretty little lanterns hanging from the tree Many generations of students have passed the innocent and pure age with the poem “Bundle of chestnuts” by poet Xuan Hoai: “Where is the tree bank crowded with leaves / Where is the bunch of chestnuts hanging? / The wind brings strange scents / Always fragrant, stirring!”. Not only the scent, the “bundle of chestnut flowers” is reminiscent, but also filled with images and childhood memories: “Boyfriend picks up branches/Girlfriend picks up his hands/Boyfriend’s pocket is full/Girlfriend’s hat is behind/This bunch of yellow flowers/Inviting each other for her/Class hasn’t arrived yet/Scented the teacher’s desk “. Unknowingly smiling, the scent of chestnut flowers still follows the wind and fills my mind. Missing the days spent with friends playing under the shady old oak tree. An elementary school with a few rows of horizontal houses, the school yard is still the ground. The mischievous students gathered in groups of five and three, playing all kinds of games on that yard. This is playing umbrella, playing u, skipping rope, throwing cans, playing marbles… Everyone is enthusiastic and passionate as if they never get bored, the sweat pouring out on their faces also innocently raises their sleeves to swipe and swipe. and then engrossed in the game, shouting loudly. Remember the resounding reading lessons, math exercises that have to “mobilize” all 10 toes, fingers still find it difficult… Missing teachers, caring teachers, dedicated to teaching… Remember the feeling of craving ice cream cones sold in front of the school gate after school. The ice cream stick costs only 200 VND but yearns for a whole childhood… Many years have passed, those innocence and purity follow the hustle and bustle of life, but the memories and nostalgia still follow the attached scent of rag flowers, deposited in the mind forever. leave. That place is a peaceful landing place so that when we are tired and exhausted, we seek refuge, a “spiritual medicine” to ease the pain, heal the wounded soul. Now, every time I look out at the yard in front of the house, where the jasmine tree silently emits a sweet and fragrant fragrance, every flower season, I often remember that sweet and clear memory. This year’s grandmother is over 90 years old, often whispering to her granddaughter-in-law “help her pick some bunches of chestnuts, she puts them at the bedside for fragrance”. My father-in-law often keeps the habit of picking a few bunches of ragweed flowers on the full moon day and putting them on a small plate on the altar to burn incense for the ancestors. And my little daughter, even though she’s only just turned three, loves to smell chestnuts. I am glad that. However, it is still attractive with industrial, synthetic scents emanating from cakes, candies and countless other things. But after all, the memories and nostalgia of a wild flower with a sweet and fragrant scent will be a peaceful destination that follows us for the rest of our lives.