Thailand Literary Pieces

ASEAN Literature: Discovering Identity Amidst Diversity 85
Boatman’s Love Song?
A happy and reckless youth I am

As I ply boat on the deep. Menam;
My song shall end and my song begin
In praise of there, my darling.
Geron, C.D., Baxa, E.N., & Bañez, R.M. (2020). ASEAN literature: Discovering identity amidst diversity.
Batangas City, Philippines: Batangas State University.
CHORUS: Begin with the head and end with the toes;
My praise shall be strong as the tide
That flows.
Who that has been e’er forgot

Thy pretty hair tied in a sweet knot?
That flows.
Thy eyebrow black, I’m sure that each

Is a shiny as any healthy leech;
No elephant, white, black, short, or tall,
Can boast of such eyes, so loving and small
That flows.
As for thy nose, I’m certain that

None other has come has one so wide and flat;
And the ebony’s bark in its core beneath’

Was never so black as thy shiny teeth
That flows.
Complexion of gold and a high cheek-bone,

Such a lovely bride as my darling Chin.
That flows.
Thy frame is as light as the forest stag
And as strong and firm as a rocky crag;
Thy feet and toes (the more good luck)
As pretty and broad as the web-footed duck.
That flows.
While Reading
Are you fond of making or collecting haikus? Did you know that Anne Hathaway, Ellen de
Generes, Oprah Winfrey and Pamela Anderson are fond of collecting and reading
HAIKUS? This conventional form of poetry refreshes them as they always say.
Three Line
Poem
Uten Mahamid
Translated by: Mui Poopoksakul
In one remote area,

murdering one’s own cat
is the most magical thing
Uten Mahamid writes a lot of Thai haiku, which are popular amongst young Thai writers. Compared to Japanese haiku, it
has no real strictures beyond the number of lines.
Post Reading Activity
Theme:
1. What emotions were expressed in this Thai haiku?

2. What was the symbolism used by the writer? Explain.
3. What is the dominant subject matter discussed in the haiku?

4. What images are created into your mind in the haiku?
Pre-reading Activity
Encircle the words pertained as Elements of Poetry either vertically, horizontally, or
diagonally.
WORD PUZZLE
V M E A N I N G T S
O I R O N Y U D H U
I S I M I L E D B
C O M G H H I E E J
E M E H T E M N I E
A P S I P T O O D C
S K S D O A O T I T
D P A E E C D A O E
H K G A M M F T M G
P D E S S A B I A A
O V B K F T S O T U
I M A G E R Y N I G
P R N S A T A O C N
O Q S U I E O L S A
E A L O A R J V O L
F I G U R A T I V E
While Reading
Do you have a collection of something you value?
Are you fond of making poems or short stories to relieve stress and frustrations?
Where do you get your inspiration? What are the sources of topics you usually get to craft
your masterpiece?
Summary Collection of Thai Century Literatures

In the project ASEAN 20th Century Literatures, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture
implements this project to promote understanding of Thai Culture and way of life among foreign
readers. Only 9 literary pieces are selected by the appointed Committee for their appeal, literary value,
and reflection of Thai literature development. All of them show Thai way of life, society and culture.
Last but not least, they inspire imagination and creativity.
Three short stories and six poems are translated into English. They are Champoon by Dhep
Mahapaoraya, Maum by Kukrit Pramoj, and The Barbs by Phaitoon Thanya. The poems are: What is
such forging? By Ujjeni, A Poet’s Pledge 1&2 by Angkram Kalayanapong, E-san by Nia Pee, Mere
Movement by Naowarat Pongpaiboon, Smile of the Rice Goddess by Chiranan Pitpreecha, and
Arrival of Nirvana at Egg- Noodle Shop by Montri Sriyong.
SMILE OF THE RICE GODDESS

By Chiranan Pitpreecha
This poem portrays pestle crushing of rice by several
female farmers, showing harmony and mutual
kindness as well as the agricultural tradition in
Thailand. Onomatopoeia is mainly used, resonating
the sound of pestle crushing and creating the image of
harmonious rhythmic trampling. As rice growing is
the most important profession in Thailand, the poem
successfully symbolizes the farmers, female rice
growers and its nation.
CHAMPOON
By Dhep Mahapaorayais
Champoon is a novella portraying Thai society prior to 1942 when women
are mostly deprived of their rights and freedom. Their marriage needed to
be
approved by their parents. In this novella, the heroine, Champoon, has a forbidden love with a
non-local man. Having him as her one and only love leads Champoon to her doom. The novella
not only reveals Champoon’s strong determination and extreme sense of human dignity, but
also reflects the background and atmosphere along with the way of life in the south of Thailand
during that time.

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ASEAN Literature: Discovering Identity Amidst Diversity 85

Boatman’s Love Song?

A happy and reckless youth I am

Who that has been e’er forgot

Thy eyebrow black, I’m sure that each

As for thy nose, I’m certain that

And the ebony’s bark in its core beneath’

Complexion of gold and a high cheek-bone,

In one remote area,

Post Reading Activity

1. What emotions were expressed in this Thai haiku?

3. What is the dominant subject matter discussed in the haiku?

Summary Collection of Thai Century Literatures

Last but not least, they inspire imagination and creativity.

Arrival of Nirvana at Egg- Noodle Shop by Montri Sriyong.

SMILE OF THE RICE GODDESS

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