On July 13th， reports emerged that a video of an elderly gentleman attempting to write an essay on the theme “My Mother，” mirroring the 1957 Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination) topic， has gone viral across the internet. Many netizens have commented that the heartfelt and simple prose brought them to tears.
In his essay， the gentleman wrote: “The grass on the grave turns green and yellow， yellow and green again， much like my longing， which is endless， year after year. I have become a father and a grandfather， yet I haven’t called out ‘Mom’ in over thirty years. I often think that when I can no longer carry cement， I will return to the village and lie down beside that pile of earth. Perhaps then， when I call out ‘Mom’ again， she will be able to hear me.”
The essay’s simple yet resonant phrases have touched countless hearts， with the video subsequently achieving over 7 million likes on the internet. This widespread engagement highlights the universal theme of filial piety and enduring love for one’s mother.
Netizens have shared their own sentiments regarding their mothers， with many expressing how the gentleman’s words evoked their own emotions. One comment read， “Reading the grandfather’s essay， I almost cried. It made me think of my own mother; her nagging was an expression of love.” Another person noted， “The grandfather’s writing lacks ornate language， but it is precisely this simplicity that resonates most deeply with people.” The overwhelming feedback suggests that genuine emotion， conveyed without embellishment， is often the most powerful form of communication.
A mother’s love is often described as unconditional， expecting no repayment. They do not measure whether their children can “afford” to reciprocate， but rather focus on whether their children are well-fed， well-rested， and happy. Our role as children is to learn to love them in the same way they love us: by spending time with them， listening to their repeated stories， remembering their birthdays just as they remember ours， and becoming a reliable pillar of support when they need us.
