C O N S I D E R E D W I T H R E F E R E N C E T O T H E W O R K S OF
A N G K H A N K A L A Y A N A P H O N G , N A O W A R A T P H O N G P H A I B U N A N D S U C H I T W O N G T H E T
T h e s i s s u b m i t t e d f o r th e Ph.D. d e g r e e of t he U n i v e r s i t y of L o n d o n
b y
S u c h i t r a C h o n g s t i t v a t a n a
S c h o o l of O r i e n t a l a n d A f r i c a n S t u d i e s M a r c h 1984
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T h i s s t u d y is an a t t e m p t to e x p l o r e t h e n a t u r e of m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y t h r o u g h th e w o r k s of s o m e w e l l - r e c o g n i z e d p o e t s of toda y , n a m e l y A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g , N a o w a r a t P h o n g p h a i b u n a n d S u c h i t W o n g t h e t . T h e e x p l o r a t i o n i n t o the n a t u r e of
m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y s e r v e s u l t i m a t e l y to r e v e a l th e n a t u r e of the art of T h a i p o e t r y . T h e a n a l y s i s of th e w o r k s of t h e s e p o e t s r e f l e c t s the s i g n i f i c a n c e of ' c o n v e n t i o n ' in the
c r e a t i o n of ' m o d e r n i t y ' .
T h e s t u d y is d i v i d e d i n t o s i x c h a p t e r s :
C h a p t e r I : ' C o n v e n t i o n ' an d 'mode r n i t y ' in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y : a s t u d y of A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g 1s L a m N a m P hu K r a d u 'ng
C h a p t e r II : T h e n a t u r e of A n g k h a n 's m o d e r n i t y
C h a p t e r III : T h e n a t u r e a n d s i g n i f i c a n c e of v e r s e f o r m s in T h a i p o e t r y : a s t u d y of N a o w a r a t P h o n g p h a i b u n
C h a p t e r IV : T h e i n f l u e n c e of 'oral t r a d i t i o n ' in m o d e r n T ha i p o e t r y
C h a p t e r V : T h e c r e a t i o n of s y m b o l s in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y C h a p t e r VI : On t he f o r m a t i o n of T h a i p o e t i c a l c o n v e n t i o n a n d T h a i c o n c e p t s of p o e t s and p o e t r y
T h r o u g h t h e s t r u c t u r e of the s t u d y e m e r g e s th e fa ct t h a t t h e e x p l o r a t i o n of ' m o d e r n i t y ' is i n e v i t a b l y the e x p l o r a t i o n of v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of ' c o n v e n t i o n ' . T h e r e f o r e , the d i s c u s s i o n in C h a p t e r V I f o r m s a v a l i d c o n c l u s i o n of the s t u d y .
It is e s s e n t i a l to o b s e r v e t h a t a f i r m b e l i e f in the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the n a t u r e of l a n g u a g e a n d p o e t r y in
t h a t l a n g u a g e is an u n d e r l y i n g 'theory' of t h e a p p r o a c h of th e stu d y . T h i s 'theory' is r e - c o n f i r m e d t h r o u g h the
e x a m i n a t i o n of v a r i o u s t e x t s on T ha i v e r s i f i c a t i o n . Th e s t u d y is i n t e n d e d as a 'tribute' to a r a t h e r
u n e x p l o r e d d o m a i n of m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y or, at leas t , as an i n v i t a t i o n a n d i n s p i r a t i o n f o r f u t u r e e x p l o r a t i o n to come.
C O N T E N T S
A B S T R A C T
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
A N O T E O N T R A N S L A T I O N A N D T R A N S C R I P T I O N
C H A P T E R I: ' C on v e n t i o n ' a nd 'm o d e r n i t y ' in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y : a s t u d y of A n g k h a n
K a l a y a n a p h o n g 's Lam Na m P h u K r a d u ' n g
C H A P T E R II: T h e n a t u r e of A n g k h a n ' s m o d e r n i t y
C H A P T E R III: T h e n a t u r e an d s i g n i f i c a n c e of v e r s e f o r m s in T h a i p o e t r y : a s t u d y of N a o w a r a t P h o n g p h a i b u n
C H A P T E R IV: T h e i n f l u e n c e of 'oral t r a d i t i o n ' in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y
C H A P T E R V: T h e c r e a t i o n of s y m b o l s in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y
C H A P T E R VI: O n t he f o r m a t i o n of T h a i p o e t i c a l
c o n v e n t i o n an d T ha i c o n c e p t s of p o e t s and p o e t r y
E P I L O G U E
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-5-
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
I w o u l d l i k e to e x p r e s s my d e e p g r a t i t u d e to my s u p e r v i s o r , P r o f e s s o r E . H . S . S i m m o n d s , f o r h i s k i n d
g u i d a n c e throughout, th e s t u d y and to his i n s p i r i n g a d v i c e on the t r a n s l a t i o n of the p o e t i c a l texts. I am g r a t e f u l to Dr. M a n a s C h i t a k a s e m f o r his c o n s t a n t i n t e r e s t in the w o r k an d hi s w i l l i n g n e s s to help, an d to the l a t e
Mr P e t e r B e e w h o p r o v i d e d me w i t h i n t e r e s t i n g a r t i c l e s at the b e g i n n i n g of th e study . I w i s h a l s o to t h a n k
Mrs. J.M. J a c o b f o r h e r k i n d i n f o r m a t i o n on Khmer p o e t i c s an d p o e t r y .
I am v e r y g r a t e f u l to t he G o v e r n i n g B o d y of t he S c h o o l w h o g r a n t e d me the s c h o l a r s h i p for t h r e e y e a r s a n d thus e n a b l e d me to c o m p l e t e th e stu dy .
It is a p l e a s u r e to a c k n o w l e d g e the k i n d n e s s of
A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g w h o a l l o w e d me a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h h i m on T h a i p o e t r y in B a n g k o k in J a n u a r y 1983. T h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t I r e c e i v e d f r o m my f r i e n d s is al s o i n v a l u a b l e . My t h a n k s go to M a d e m o i s e l l e D e n i s e H a b a s q u e f or h e l p i n g w i t h the
t y p i n g of the f i r s t d r a f t of the thes i s , to M a d a m e K l u a y m a i D e s c h a m p s f o r p r o v i d i n g the p o e m u s e d as t h e e p i l o g u e , to M i s s S i r a p o r n T h i t a t h a n for h e r g i f t of C h a k Ma C h o m M u 1a n g , to Mr. D. Na P o m b e j r a for h e l p i n g w i t h th e h i s t o r i c a l d a t e s and to Mr. P. A s s a v a v i r u l h a k a r n f o r l e n d i n g v a r i o u s b o o k s f o r the stu d y .
S p e c i a l g r a t i t u d e is d u e to th e S o u t h E a s t A s i a r o o m of the S O A S l i b r a r y w h i c h s e r v e d as an a c a d e m i c 'refuge' a nd a m e m o r a b l e 'office' fo r th e w r i t i n g of th e t h e s i s .
T h e m o s t p r e c i o u s s p i r i t u a l s u p p o r t a n d i n s p i r a t i o n c o m e f r o m my l o v i n g f a m i l y and p a r e n t s . I t h a n k t h e m w i t h all my h e a r t fo r a l w a y s h e l p i n g me to r e a l i z e my d r e a m s .
-7-
A N o t e on T r a n s l a t i o n and T r a n s c r i p t i o n
It is i m p o r t a n t to e m p h a s i z e h e r e t h a t the t r a n s l a t i o n of all the p o e t i c a l t e x t s in the s t u d y s h o u l d be c o n s i d e r e d o n l y as a c o n v e n i e n t i n s t r u m e n t fo r a c a d e m i c d i s c u s s i o n . It is n o t in an y w a y an a t t e m p t to p r o d u c e or r e - c r e a t e any k i n d of a n t h o l o g y of m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y . T h o u g h g r e a t c a r e an d a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n e m p l o y e d in t he t r a n s l a t i o n so as n o t to d e s t r o y or d i s t o r t th e o r i g i n a l m e a n i n g s , t h e l i m i t a t i o n of t i m e m a k e s it i m p o s s i b l e to a i m at th e o r i g i n a l p o e t i c
b e a u t y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , if the t r a n s l a t i o n h e l p s to c l a r i f y t h e d i s c u s s i o n in t he sdrvdy, its f u n c t i o n is c o n s i d e r e d s u f f i c i e n t l y f u l f i l l e d .
T h e t r a n s c r i p t i o n of T h a i t e x t s is b a s e d on th e G e n e r a l S y s t e m of the R o y a l I n s t i t u t e of T h a i l a n d , w i t h s o m e
m o d i f i c a t i o n .
C O N V E N T I O N A S T U D Y OF
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C o n v e n t i o n a n d M o d e r n i t y in M o d e r n T h a i P oe t r y : S t u d y of A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g 1s La m N a m P h u K r a d u ' n g
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T h e P o e t ' s T e s t a m e n t
I w r a p th e s k y a r o u n d m y s e l f to k e e p a w a y the c o l d
an d e a t s t a r l i g h t l a t e at n i g h t to t ak e th e p l a c e of rice.
D e w d r o p s s c a t t e r b e l o w the sk y fo r me to f i n d a nd d r i n k ,
a n d o u t my p o e m s f l o w
to g r e e t th e morn, to l a s t t he age.
My h e ar t , s a c r i f i c e d to its g r av e , g a i n s u n w o r l d l y p ow e r s ;
t h e s p i r i t f l i e s to l a n d s of d r e a m s t h e f a r s i d e of the sky.
It s e e k s d i v i n i t y in H e a v e n a n d b r i n g s it b a c k to e a r t h to s o o t h e t h e s a n d an d grass,
b r i n g i n g h a p p i n e s s , b r i n g i n g p e a c e . My p u r p o s e in c o m p o s i n g p o e m s
is to s a l v a g e th e soul.
T r a n s l a t e d b y A l l e n G i n s b u r g2
^"Angkhan Kalayanaphong, Kawlniphon (Bangkok, 1964), p. 5.
2Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation, Three Thai Poets (Bangkok, 1978), p. 12.
- 1 1 -
T h e a b o v e T h a i p o e m t r a n s l a t e d b y a f a m o u s A m e r i c a n poet, A l l e n G i n s b e r g , is w r i t t e n by on e of t h e b e s t k n o w n a n d h i g h l y r e c o g n i z e d T h a i c o n t e m p o r a r y p o e t s , A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g . T h e t r a n s l a t i o n , t h o u g h n o t s t r i c t l y a c c u r a t e to th e o r i g i n a l T h a i v e r s i o n , s h o u l d b e a b l e to t e l l w e s t e r n r e a d e r s q u i t e a l ot a b o u t t h i s T h a i poet.
T h o s e w h o a re a c c u s t o m e d to th e c o n v e n t i o n s a n d t r a d i t i o n of T h a i p o e t r y w i l l c e r t a i n l y f i n d th i s p o e m r a t h e r
s t r i k i n g . It is n o t v e r y c o m m o n for a T h a i p o e t to a s s e r t hi s ' t e s t a m e n t ' so e x p l i c i t l y an d p e r s o n a l l y .
In th e o l d d a y s , it w a s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t m o s t T h a i p o e t s w o r k e d u n d e r the p a t r o n a g e of the k i n g a n d the n o b i l i t y or t h e y w e r e k i n g s or n o b l e s t h e m s e l v e s . Thus, it is n a t u r a l t h a t t h e i r 'testa m e n t ' w a s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m A n g k h a n ' s t e s t a m e n t as a poet. T h r o u g h t h e l o n g h i s t o r y of T h a i p o e t r y we h a v e w o r k s w r i t t e n in p r a i s e of the k i n g l i k e L i l i t Y u a n P h a i , L i l i t T a l e n g Ph a i or to e n t e r t a i n the k i n g by the s t o r y an d t h e p l e a s i n g s o u n d s of p o e t r y l i k e L i l i t P h r a Lg or to g a i n r e l i g i o u s m e r i t s b y c o m p o s i n g
r e l i g i o u s w o r k s l i k e T r a i p h u m P h r a r u a n g , M a h a c h a t K h a m l u a n g , P h r a m a l a i K h a m l u a n g , b u t the p o e t s h a r d l y a s s e r t e d a n y t h i n g p e r s o n a l l y as th e p u r p o s e of c o m p o s i n g p o e t r y .
H ere, A n g k h a n n o t o n l y c h o o s e s to b e v e r y p e r s o n a l b u t a l s o v e r y s p i r i t u a l as he d e c l a r e s t h a t h i s p u r p o s e of
w r i t i n g p o e t r y is to ' s a l v a g e th e soul'. T h i s f a c t p e r h a p s h e l p s to e m p h a s i z e th e c o m m e n t of o n e T h a i c r i t i c ,
M.L. B u n l u 'a T h e p a y a s u w a n t h a t A n g k h a n c o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d 'one of the p o e t s w h o m a r k t h e t u r n i n g - p o i n t of T h a i
p o e t r y . '1
A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g w a s b o r n in N a k o r n s r l t h a m m a r a t in th e S o u t h of T h a i l a n d in 1926. He w e n t to s t u d y p a i n t in g an d s c u l p t u r e at S i l p a k o r n U n i v e r s i t y in 1946, and his p o e t r y w a s f i r s t p u b l i s h e d in the U n i v e r s i t y ' s m a g a z i n e s . L a t e r on he g a i n e d m u c h r e c o g n i t i o n w h e n h i s p o e m s a p p e a r e d in t h e S o c i a l S c i e n c e R e v i e w . T h e t r a n s l a t i o n of the p o e m a b o v e b y A l l e n G i n s b e r g m a d e h i m k n o w n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y and the E n g l i s h v e r s i o n of hi s p o e m s a l s o a p p e a r e d in T e n g g a r a , M a l a y s i a , S o l i d a r i t y , the P h i l i p p i n e s an d Q u a d r a n t ,
A u s t r a l i a .2
A n g k h a n 's f i r s t b o o k K a w i n i p h o n w a s p u b l i s h e d in 196 4 b y t h e S o c i a l S c i e n c e A s s o c i a t i o n of T h a i l a n d Press.
In 1 9 7 2 h e w a s ra w a r d e d t h e b e s t p o e t of th e d e c a d e b y the S a t h i r a k o s e s - N a g a p r a d i p a F o u n d a t i o n .3
T o g e t h e r w i t h t w o o t h e r T h a i poets, N a o w a r a t
P h o n g p h a i b u n a n d W i t a y a k o r n C h i e n g k u n , A n g k h a n w a s i n v i t e d to r e a d h i s p o e m s at the 'A s e a n P o e t r y '78', t he f i r s t
A s e a n poe ts ' m e e t i n g h e l d in J a k a r t a b y t h e A r t s C o u n c i l of J a k a r t a in J u l y 1978.
In fact, A n g k h l n ' s r e c o g n i t i o n as a g r e a t p o e t has b e e n a g r a d u a l t h i n g . His o r i g i n a l i t y in c o m b i n i n g the c o n v e n t i o n s w i t h h i s o w n p o w e r f u l and u n i q u e s t y l e of
^M.L. Bunlu'a Thepayasuwan, 'Hualieo Khgng Wannakhadi Thai* (The Turning-Point of Thai Literature), Wannakhadi (Bangkok, 1971), pp. 125-6.
2See Three Thai Poets (Bangkok, 1978), p. 4.
3This is a foundation named after two famous Thai authors and scholars Sathirakoses and Nagapradipra, which has as its main objective to support Thai literary works and traditional arts.
-13 -
l a n g u a g e u s e w a s n o t i m m e d i a t e l y a c c e p t e d b y the m or e a c a d e m i c a n d c o n s e r v a t i v e a u t h o r i t y in T h a i l i t e r a t u r e . F o r e x a m p l e , he w a s a c c u s e d of n e g l e c t i n g t h e e x a c t p o e t i c a l f o r m s as w e l l as ' p o e t i c 1 d i c t i o n . T h i s m i g h t b e q u i t e t r u e in a s e n s e b e c a u s e he c a r e s m o r e f o r the b e a u t y of s o u n d s in h i s p o e t r y t h a n t he r e g u l a r r e s t r i c t e d n u m b e r of th e s y l l a b l e s in e a c h l i n e or s t a n z a a n d he d a r e s to u s e m a n y ' i mproper' or 'impolite' w o r d s in h i s p o e t r y as well.
On t h e o t h e r hand, n o b o d y ca n r e a l l y d e n y t h e p o w e r of hi s l a n g u a g e u s e w h i c h d e e p l y m o v e s all h i s r e a d e r s . O n e c r i t e r i o n t h e c o m m i t t e e of t h e S a t h i r a k o s e s -
N a g a p r a d i p r a F o u n d a t i o n u s e d in o r d e r to a w a r d A n g k h a n t h e b e s t p o e t of t he d e c a d e is t h a t he is t h e p o e t w h o c o u l d r e f l e c t t h e t h o u g h t s , o p i n i o n s , f e e l i n g s a n d d r e a m s of th e n e w g e n e r a t i o n .
M.L. B u n l u ' a T h e p a y a s u w a n e x p l a i n e d h e r d e c i s i o n to a w a r d A n g k h a n as f o l l o w s :
'T h e b e a u t y of T h a i p o e t r y d e p e n d s so m u c h on th e c a r e f u l a n d d e l i c a t e u s e of w o r d s as w e l l as the d e e p a n d r e f i n e d s e n s i b i l i t y of th e p o e t w h o ca n c r e a t e t h e " m a r v e l l o u s 1' and th e " w o n d e r f u l " ou t of t he " o r d i n a r y " . T h i s c a n b e s e e n in w o r k s l i k e L i l i t P h r a L o , I n a o , a n d N i r a t N a r i n . T h e c a r e f u l c h o i c e of w o r d s u s e d to d e s c r i b e n a t u r e in g e n e r a l s u c h as t h e t r e e s , th e s k y or the m o u n t a i n s an d
f o r e s t s or to d e s c r i b e the c o m m o n f e e l i n g s e x p e r i e n c e d b y a l m o s t e v e r y b o d y is th e i n g e n i o u s ar t of T h a i p o e t s f r o m t h e A y u t h a y a to t h e m i d d l e of R a t a n a k o s i n p e r io d .
U n t i l t h i s l a s t 15 y e a r s s i n c e I s t a r t e d r e a d i n g A n g k h a n 1s p o e t r y , I w a s d e l i g h t e d to r e a l i z e t h a t we
h a d a T h a i p o e t w h o c o u l d e x p r e s s th e t h o u g h t s and f e e l i n g s of m o d e r n s o c i e t y in the l a n g u a g e of a p o e t as w e l l as w i t h t h e s e n s i b i l i t y of a poet. Th a i
p o e t r y h a s r e a c h e d an i m p o r t a n t t u r n i n g - p o i n t . We n o w h a v e a p o e t w h o c a n m o v e us, m o d e r n r e a d e r s , w i t h
l a n g u a g e t h a t m a d e us e x p e r i e n c e t h e p a in s , b i t t e r n e s s , as w e l l as t e n d e r n e s s , and w h o c a n m a k e us f ee l joy a n d d e l i g h t . A n g k h a n is t r u l y a p o e t of our t i m e n ot ju s t a v e r s i f i e r w h o o n l y u s e s m e n t a l i n t e l l i g e n c e
b u t a g r e a t p o e t w h o c o m b i n e s t he f e e l i n g s a n d the i d e a s and u n d e r s t a n d i n g of th e T h a i w a y of l i f e w i t h the
m a r v e l l o u s h e r i t a g e of T h a i p o e t i c a r t . 1 (trans. S.C.)
As A n g k h a n is a l s o an a r t i s t , h i s w o r k r e f l e c t s his t a l e n t in p a i n t i n g a n d c r e a t i n g i m a g e s f r o m w o r d s as w e l l as f r o m h i s b r u s h e s . T h i s is c o m m e n t e d on a n d p r a i s e d b y one m e m b e r of th e c o m m i t t e e of t h e F o u n d a t i o n , P r a k h i n C h u m s a i N a A y u t h a y a , w h o is a p o e t in he r o w n r i g h t .
’A n g k h a n n o t o n l y c o m p o s e s p o e t r y in his ow n s t y l e b u t he is a l s o g e n u i n e l y an a r t i s t - p o e t in the f u l l e s t s e n s e of b o t h w o r d s . He is a b l e to m o v e us d e e p l y b y c r e a t i n g w i t h hi s p e n as w e l l as h is b r u s h
the m o s t b r e a t h t a k i n g a n d b e a u t i f u l i m a g e s t h a t n e v e r o c c u r b e f o r e m a n y o t h e r p o e t ' s m i n d or i m a g i n a t i o n . ' 2
(t r a n s . S.C.)
A s i m i l a r o p i n i o n is g i v e n b y a n o t h e r m e m b e r of the c o m m i t t e e , T h a p a n I N a k h o n t h a p , w h o is a c r i t i c as w e l l as a p o e t h e r s e l f .
A n g k h a n K a l a y a n a p h o n g , B a n g k o k k s e o K a m s a u a n or N i r a t N a k o r n S r i t h a m m a r a t (B a n g k o k , 1978), pT 253.
^Ibid. p. 254.
-15 -
1 B u t w h e n he is m o v e d b y the b e a u t y of n a t u r e he w i l l u s e t h e m o s t b e a u t i f u l w o r d s w i t h m e l o d i o u s s o u n d s a n d w i t h d e e p a n d w i d e m e a n i n g s . We c a n sa y t h a t h i s p o e t r y has t h e b e a u t y of s e n s e a n d s o u n d as w e l l as of s h a d o w a n d shade.' i (trans. S.C.)
If A n g k h a n 's w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d r e c o g n i t i o n as a m o d e r n p o e t s a v e s me t h e e f f o r t to j u s t i f y m y c h o i c e , it s t i l l r e m a i n s f o r me to e x p l a i n w h y I c h o o s e to s t u d y L a m Na m P h u K r a d u ' n g . T h e m a i n r e a s o n lie s in th e f a c t t h a t L a m N a m P h u K r a d u ' n g is w r i t t e n in the t r a d i t i o n of N i r a t
t h o u g h t h e p o e t d o e s no t u s e the w o r d 'Nirat' as th e t i t l e of h i s w o r k . B e s i d e s , t h i s w o r k is A n g k h a n 's f i r s t l o n g p o e t i c a l w o r k p u b l i s h e d a f t e r h i s f i r s t b o o k w h i c h is o n l y a c o l l e c t i o n of h i s s h o r t p o e m s a n d p o e t i c p r o s e .
T h e i m p o r t a n c e of the N i r a t g e n r e in T h a i p o e t r y is w e l l r e c o g n i z e d a m o n g T h a i l i t e r a r y s c h o l a r s . N i r a t is n o t o n l y o n e of th e o l d e s t g e n r e s in T h a i p o e t r y b u t als o o n e of t h e m o s t p o p u l a r g e n r e s to w h i c h a lo t of m a j o r T h a i l i t e r a r y w o r k s b e l o n g .
Dr M a n a s C h i t a k a s e m , in h i s a r t i c l e 'The E m e r g e n c e a n d D e v e l o p m e n t of th e N i r a t G e n r e in T h a i P o e t r y ' t r a c e d t h e o r i g i n of t h i s g e n r e a n d c a m e to the c o n c l u s i o n t h a t
'The t e r m N i r a t as a p o e t i c a l g e n r e w a s r e c o g n i z e d as l o n g ag o as t h e 1 6 t h c e n t u r y w h e n K h l o n g N i r a t H a r i p u n c h a i
is b e l i e v e d to h a v e b e e n c o m p o s e d . '
S o m e o t h e r w e l l k n o w n e a r l i e r w o r k s of N i r a t t y p e are n o t d i s t i n g u i s h e d b y th e t i t l e 'Nirat' s u c h as K h l o n g
^Ibid. p. 256.
T h a w S t h o t s a m a t m e a n i n g ' T w e l v e Months' or K h l o n g K a m s u a n S r l p r a t , m e a n i n g 'the W a i l i n g of S r l p r a t ' . 1
By u s i n g th e t i t l e 'Lam N a m Phu K r a d u ' n g ' f o r his 'Nirat' p o e t r y , A n g k h a n is, t h e r e f o r e , j u s t f o l l o w i n g an e a r l i e r ' t r a d i t i o n ' and ' c o n v e n t i o n ' of c o m p o s i n g a N i r a t poem. H o w e v e r , A n g k h a n ' s c h o i c e to u s e the w o r d ’L am Nam'
tnin is s i g n i f i c a n t . A c c o r d i n g to t h e T h a i - E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y b y G e o r g e B r a d l e y M c F a r l a n d the w o r d
flTin
m e a n s 'the t h e m e of a song' or m e t r i c a l c o m p o s i t i o n . 2
S i m i l a r l y , the N e w M o d e l T h a i - E n g l i s h D i c t i o n a r y c o m p i l e d b y So S e t h a p u t r a , d e f i n e s the w o r d filth as a song. 3 B e s i d e s , m D i c t i o n a r i u m L i n g u a e T h a i , a Tha i
d i c t i o n a r y b y a F r e n c h p r i e s t D . J . B . P a l l e g o i x in th e 1 9 t h c e n t u r y , w e c a n f i n d t he d e f i n i t i o n of f i f i t h as 'differ- e n t m e a s u r e s of v e r s e s ' . 4
T he w o r d
fifiin
is u s e d in C h i n d a m a n I , the m o s t i m p o r t a n t t e x t - b o o k on T h a i l a n g u a g e a n d v e r s i f i c a t i o n w r i t t e n in the 1 7 t h c e n t u r y , to m e a n a v e r s e or a poem.MstmnjsjL'nnfi'n b ' n m w u m a 3 j fi'ixio If\pnmivi i l
1 -
Manas Chitakasem, 'The Emergence and Development of the Nirat Genre in Thai Poetry', Journal of the Siam Society vol. 60 Part 2 (July, 1972), pp. 135-68.
2George Bradley McFarland, Thai-English Dictionary (Stanford Univers
ity Press, California, 1944), p. 741.
3 - .
So Sethaputra, New Model Thai-English Dictionary, 2 vols. 2nd ed.
('Inai Watana Panich Press, Bangkok, 1972), 2, 822.
^D.J.B. Pallegoix, Dictionarium Linguae Thai (Paris, 1854), p. 380.
5 v _
ChindamanI (Bangkok, 1969), p. 47.
-17-
We c a n a l s o f i n d the w o r d tf'lU'l u s e d in jJlsflUfnin P r a c h u m L a m N a m an i m p o r t a n t t e x t - b o o k of the R a t a n a k o s i n p e r i o d on T h a i v e r s i f i c a t i o n . In thi s b o o k t he w o r d
tnin is p r o m i n e n t l y u s e d to m e a n 'poetry'. Thus, b y h i s c h o i c e of th e w o r d tnu’n , A n g k h a n r e f l e c t s his
a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s h i s w o r k a n d s h o w s h o w he is a w a r e of the o l d t r a d i t i o n of T h a i p o e t r y w h i c h has a l w a y s r e c o g n i z e d th e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e t e x t of a p o e m a n d i ts r e a l i s a t i o n in s o u n d .
In o t h e r w o r d s , T h a i p o e t s ar e a w a r e of th e c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n m u s i c a n d p o e t r y . M o s t T h a i p o e t r y c a n be r e c i t e d as w e l l as s u n g l ik e s o n g s w i t h m e l o d i e s . Thu s , t h e r e e x i s t s in T h a i t r a d i t i o n a s p e c i a l w a y of
i
r e a d i n g p o e t r y c a l l e d tmivhlifN IfjlTis w h i c h m a y b e t r a n s l a t e d as ' m e l o d i o u s r e a d i n g ' . T h i s m e a n s t h a t the r e a d e r s m u s t p a y s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n to the r i s i n g a n d f a l l i n g i n t o n - a t i o n in t h e p o e m or p r o l o n g s o m e e n d i n g s y l l a b l e s f o r th e e m p h a s i s of s o u n d s and m e a n i n g s .
T h e p u r p o s e of thi s s t u d y is to i l l u s t r a t e t h e i m p o r t a n c e of ' c o n v e n t i o n ' in T h a i p o e t r y and h o w t h e p o e t m a n i p u l a t e s the ' c o n v e n t i o n ' to c r e a t e ' m o d e r n i t y ' in hi s work.
As I h a v e c h o s e n to s t u d y A n g k h a n 's La m N a m P h u K r a d u ' n g w h i c h is c o m p o s e d in th e N i r a t g e n r e , w e s h a l l n o w b e g i n b y e x a m i n i n g s o m e c o n v e n t i o n s of N i r a t .
It m i g h t be h e l p f u l if w e tr y f i r s t to c l a r i f y the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of N i r a t p o e m s . Dr M a n a s C h i t a k a s e m
d e s c r i b e d th e m e a n i n g of the w o r d 'Nirat* b o t h as a S a n s k r i t l e x i c a l f o r m a n d a t y p e of p o e t r y in T h a i as f o l lo w s :
a c c e p t e d t h a t t he t e r m N i r a t is of S a n s k r i t o r i g i n . It c o m e s f r o m fln i r a fl m e a n i n g " w i t h o u t " a n d "asa"
m e a n i n g " p a s s i o n or d e s i r e " . H o w e v e r , it is u s e d in T h a i p o e t r y to m e a n " s e p a r a t i o n , to b e s e p a r a t e d from, or to b e w i t h o u t s o m e t h i n g w h i c h is d e a r l y d e s i r e d " . In a N i r a t p o e m a p o e t m a y e x p r e s s , w i t h s t r o n g f e e l ing s a n d e m o t i o n , t h a t h e m u s t " n i r a t " h i s l o v e d one o r " ni r a t " s o m e t h i n g w h i c h o f t e n v e i l s m a n y f e e l i n g s a n d d e s i r e s a n d i n c l u d e s a y e a r n i n g to e x p e r i e n c e the p l e a s u r e of a f f e c t i o n a t e u n i o n or reunion.'"*"
P r i n c e B i d y a l a n k a r a n a , a f a m o u s p o e t a n d s c h o l a r a l s o c o m m e n t e d t h a t 'The N i r a t p o e m s u s e the s u b j e c t of s a d n e s s on l o v e s e p a r a t i o n as t h e core.' 2
As a N i r a t p o e m is u s u a l l y c o m p o s e d d u r i n g a j o u rn e y , e i t h e r a r e a l or an i m a g i n a r y one, the p o e t c a n n a t u r a l l y m a k e u s e of ' t i m e 1 an d 'nature' as m a i n e l e m e n t s fo r
e x p r e s s i n g his s u f f e r i n g s or h i s l o v e - l o n g i n g . T h u s we c a n s a y t h a t a c c o r d i n g to a N i r a t c o n v e n t i o n , t h e m a i n t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g is c o n v e y e d t h r o u g h th e t h e m e s of t i m e a n d n a t u r e . T h e s e t h r e e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c t h e m e s w i l l s e r v e as a s t a r t i n g - p o i n t in o u r e x p l o r a t i o n i n t o the
' c o n v en t i o n ' a n d ' m o d er n i t y ' in m o d e r n T h a i p o e t r y . F i r s t w e c a n b e g i n b y c o n s i d e r i n g h o w A n g k h a n m a n i p u l a t e s t h e t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g in hi s w o r k 'L a m N a m Ph u K r a d u 'n g 1 . A c c o r d i n g to th e c o n v e n t i o n , a N i r a t p o e m is e s s e n t i a l l y a c o m p l a i n t of the p o e t ' s s u f f e r i n g s c a u s e d b y th e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m h i s l o v e d one. A n g k h a n f o l l o w s thi s
"*" Manas Chitakasem, op. cit.
2 —
Prince Bidyalankarana, Phasom Phasan: Miscellaneous Essays by N.M.S.
2 vols. (Bangkok, I960), 2, 7-9.
-19 -
c o n v e n t i o n b u t h i s s u f f e r i n g is s o m e h o w d i f f e r e n t . His m a i n l a m e n t a t i o n is n o t so m u c h c a u s e d b y h i s i n e v i t a b l e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m h i s l o v e d o n e b u t b y h i s l o n e l i n e s s and h i s c o m p l e t e l a c k of a l o v e d one. He e x p r e s s e s a d e e p r e s e n t m e n t t o w a r d s w o m e n b e c a u s e he b e l i e v e s t ha t t h e y v a l u e r i c h e s m o r e t h a n p u r e love. Ye t he f i n d s a c o n s o l a t i o n in c r e a t i n g h i s i d e a l b e l o v e d o n e in h is d r e a m ; an i d o l of p u r i t y a n d b e a u t y .
W i t h i n the e s s e n t i a l t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g in a N i r a t poem, it is n o r m a l fo r th e p o e t to i n c l u d e th e p r a i s i n g of hi s b e l o v e d w h i c h h e l p s to r e f l e c t and d e e p e n hi s s u f f e r ings. N o d o u b t , A n g k h a n , f u l l y a w a r e of t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e of t h i s t h e m e , f o l l o w s th e c o n v e n t i o n .
In m a n y m a j o r T h a i p o e t i c a l w o r k s , it is n o t u n c o m m o n to f i n d the p r a i s i n g of t h e p o e t ' s b e l o v e d w h i c h f o l l o w s t h e I n d i a n c o n v e n t i o n . T h i s m e a n s t h a t a T h a i p o e t t e n d s to p r a i s e the b e a u t y of h i s b e l o v e d by u s i n g a set of c o n v e n t i o n a l c o m p a r i s o n s to d e s c r i b e the 'ideal' b e a u t y .
Fo r e x a m p l e , h e r n e c k is c o m p a r e d to a s w a n ' s neck, h e r w a i s t a l i o n ' s w a i s t , h e r f i n g e r s l i k e t h o s e of a K i n a r l , a c r e a t u r e of h a l f b i r d , h a l f m a i d e n in m y t h o l o g y . In p r a i s i n g h i s b e l o v e d , A n g k h a n f o l l o w s t h e c o n v e n t i o n b y u s i n g a s i m i l a r t r a d i t i o n a l se t of c o m p a r i s o n s to d e s c r i b e an i d e a l b e a u t y . H o w e v e r , hi s a p p r a i s a l is a l s o a m i x t u r e of c o n v e n t i o n a n d h i s o w n c r e a t i v i t y . He d o e s n o t s e e m to be c o n t e n t o n l y w i t h d e s c r i b i n g th e p h y s i c a l f e a t u r e s of h i s b e l o v e d b u t he m e n t i o n s a n d p r a i s e s h e r i n t e l l e c t u a l p o w e r in s pe e c h .
p. 71
sV
* y
v *=4 *4jflotiimoruirnrntf?
ItfflOH^VUlVimvntm1
L i k e th e b l a d e of p i e r c i n g sword, is y o u r t ongue, U t t e r i n g w o r d s far m o r e p r e c i o u s t h a n p o e t r y .
S i m p l y b y y o u r s p e e c h , th e p o e t can b e m o r t i f i e d , An d at y o u r f e e t he w i l l h u m b l y k n e e l d o w n to die.
A p a r t f r o m p r a i s i n g h e r i n t e l l e c t as w e l l as h e r b e a u t y , t he p o e t e x p r e s s e s hi s d e s i r e to s h a r e h is i n t e l l e c t u a l and s p i r i t u a l l i f e w i t h her. He w i l l d i s c u s s
p h i l o s o p h y a n d art w i t h h e r an d m a k e h e r s h a r e h is a p p r e c i a t i o n of them. By all th i s t h e y w i l l c r e a t e an u l t i m a t e u n i o n w i t h e a c h o t h e r , an e v e r - l a s t i n g l o v e w h i c h is a b o v e a n d b e y o n d time.
p . 72
i juuflmifizYh'nmn afmiJnrifpiivmfirnfi
IL3J3J1 U f\MS'UVilUvrn a tv1 u n
^ f n ** f> 3 h
^QjojntuRe a l f r i e n d s of h e a r t are y o u and I T o g e t h e r we s t u d y t he E a r t h and the Sky!
A l w a y s in l o v e w e are ti l l we die,
A n d f o r e v e r r e n o w n e d is ou r l o v e d i v i n e !
1 _ _ _
Angkhan Kalayanaphong, Lam Nam Phu Kradu'ng (Bangkok, 1969), p. 71.
-21-
As s a y s o l d m a s t e r S u n t h ^ n P h u T i l l th e e n d of th e E a r t h a n d the S k y I m m o r t a l is t h e p o w e r of t r u e lo v e A n d r e m a i n it w i l l b e y o n d t i m e above!
T h i s ' i d e a li s t i c ' e l e m e n t in the p o e t ' s d e s i r e is s o m e t h i n g 'new' in T h a i p o e t r y . A c c o r d i n g to t h e c o n v e n t ion, t h e e m p h a s i s is a l m o s t e n t i r e l y p u t u p o n the p h y s i c a l b e a u t y of t h e p o e t ' s l o v e d o n e a n d n o r m a l l y l i t t l e or
n o t h i n g is m e n t i o n e d a b o u t h e r i n t e l l e c t u a l or s p i r i t u a l q u a l i t i e s . At mos t , the p o e t m i g h t p r a i s e h e r r e f i n e d m a n n e r s a n d h e r m o d e s t y .
On th e o t h e r hand, t h i s ' i d e a l i s t i c ' e l e m e n t h e r e is n o t s u r p r i s i n g s i n c e th e p o e t m a k e s it e x p l i c i t t h a t his l o v e d o n e is an 'ideal' l a d y in his d r e a m a n d n o t in r e a l i t y .
N e v e r t h e l e s s , h i s ' i d e a l i s t i c ' d e s i r e a n d p r a i s e for h i s i d e a l l a d y is a g r e a t c o n t r a s t to h is b i t t e r a t t a c k a g a i n s t w o m e n in r e a l i t y . F r o m h i s o w n u n h a p p y e x p e r i e n c e w i t h w o m e n , t h e p o e t e x p r e s s e s a v e r y s t r o n g r e s e n t m e n t a g a i n s t w o m e n ' s n a t u r e . He l a m e n t s t h a t h i s l o n e l i n e s s an d c o m p l e t e l a c k of a l o v e d o n e is o n l y d u e to h i s l a c k of w e a l t h .
p. 16 ^ ^ « v »
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Alas, I l a c k f o r e v e r a n y r i c h e s Th u s n e v e r c a n I f i n d L o v e ' s s w e e t n e s s ! E m p t y a r e all t h e c h a m b e r s of my h e a r t L o n e l y , t o r m e n t e d a n d f a l l i n g apart!
c o n v e n t i o n of c o m p a r i n g the i m p e r m a n e n c e of t h e i r l o v e to the i m p e r m a n e n c e of the d e w d r o p s .
p. 94
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G l i t t e r i n g d e w d r o p s are w o m e n ' s h e a r t s L i k e b r i l l i a n t d i a m o n d s t h e y all seem,
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But, alas, so s o o n r e v e a l t h e i r e m p t i n e s s !
p . 65
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L i k e d e w d r o p s are w o m e n ' s love!
A f t e r s h o r t d a w n s w i f t l y d i s a p p e a r i n g , R a d i a n t l i k e d i a m o n d s g l i t t e r i n g ,
But, alas, h o w c r u e l l y d e c e i v i n g !
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P a r t i n g f r o m y o u is b u t p a r t i n g f r o m t h e dews, Al l is g o n e just a f t e r daw n !
A p r e c i o u s d i a m o n d is n o t y o u r hea r t , So e a s i l y f o u n d a n y w h e r e , a n y t i m e ! p . 62
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T h e p o e t e v e n a l l o w s h i m s e l f to r e p e a t m a n y t i m e s t h r o u g h o u t h i s w o r k t h a t w o m e n ar e in f a c t th e g r e a t e s t or t h e m o s t d a n g e r o u s a n d d e s t r u c t i v e p o w e r a g a i n s t men.
T h e y are, f o r th e poet, l i k e t h e g r a v e s of m e n or t he y a re D e a t h t h e m s e l v e s .
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Alas, my p o o r a n d m i s e r a b l e l i f e I T u r n i n g to c o r p s e e v e n b e f o r e I die.
Ah, w o m e n are l i k e m o n s t e r s f r o m hell,
W h o c a n d e c e i v e , h a r m and d e s t r o y y o u r life!
F o r e v e r l i n g e r i n g is m y f o r l o r n pai n , E n d l e s s w i l l it b e in t h i s w o r l d a n d b e y o n d . No d o ub t , w o m e n are t h e g r a v e y a r d s of men, W ho a r e b o r n o n l y to m e e t D e a t h in t h e end.
p. 95 I
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W h y s h o u l d t h i s c u r r e n t of l o v e F l o w b a c k to b u r n m y o w n h e a r t ?
F a r w o r s e t h a n any w e a p o n ar e w o m e n U n c a r i n g q u i t e , d e s t r o y i n g l i v e s of men!
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T h i s b i t t e r ’d e n u n c i a t i o n ' or a t t a c k a g a i n s t w o m e n is a v e r y d r a m a t i c c o n t r a s t to h i s ' i d e a l i s t i c ' p r a i s e w h i c h is in i t s e l f a p a r t of th e c o n v e n t i o n of th e p o e m of N i r a t type. T h e r e f o r e , her e , we c a n s e e h o w t h e p o e t c r e a t e s h i s ow n ' m o d e r n i t y ' o u t of t he ' c o n v e n t i o n ' he is v e r y m u c h a w a r e of. He e x t e n d s t he p r a i s e of hi s l o v e d o n e f r o m he r p u r e l y p h y s i c a l b e a u t y to h e r i n t e l l e c t u a l an d s p i r i t u a l b e a u t y . At the s a m e time, he add s in the b i t t e r a t t a c k c a u s e d b y h i s o w n d i s a p p o i n t m e n t f r o m w o m e n . T h i s s e e m s to m a k e a c l e a r d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n his 'ideal' w o r l d and h i s 'real' w o r l d a n d r e m i n d s th e r e a d e r s of the w e l l -
b a l a n c e d r e a l i t y in th e p o e t ' s mind. T h u s t h e p o e t s u c c e e d s in e s t a b l i s h i n g h i m s e l f as an ' i d e a l i s t i c ' p o e t w i t h o u t
l o s i n g t h e a b i l i t y to p e r c e i v e an d r e a l i z e the n a t u r e of r e a l i t y .
T o m a n i p u l a t e th e c o n v e n t i o n of u s i n g t h e t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g in N i r a t , th e p o e t n o t o n l y l a m e n t s the l a c k of l o v e f o r h i m s e l f a l o n e b u t a l s o l a m e n t s t h e l a c k of l o v e i n all h u m a n i t y of th e p r e s e n t time. T h r o u g h o u t t h e wor k , t h e p o e t e x p r e s s e s h i s d e e p l o v e f o r n a t u r e a n d p r a i s e s the d i v i n e g e n e r o s i t y of n a t u r e t o w a r d s m a n k i n d . On t he o t h e r h an d , he c l e a r l y a b h o r s th e f a c t of h u m a n s ' c r u e l t y t o w a r d s n a t u r e a n d t o w a r d s e a c h o t h e r . F o r him, th e l a c k of l o v e in t h e h u m a n h e a r t is the c a u s e of s u f f e r i n g s a n d d e s t r u c t i o n of the w o r l d . B e c a u s e of t h e i r i g n o r a n c e , h u m a n b e i n g s a r e b l i n d to th e b e a u t y of n a t u r e an d f a i l to l i v e in
h a r m o n y w i t h n a t u r e .
T h e p o e t a l s o r e s e n t s the m o d e r n t e c h n o l o g y t h a t e n c o u r a g e s h u m a n b e i n g s to b e l i e v e t h a t t h e y c a n b e the
m a s t e r of n a t u r e a n d th e w o r l d . He b e l i e v e s t h a t a l t h o u g h s c i e n c e a n d t e c h n o l o g y a re t he s o u r c e of h u m a n p r o g r e s s t h e y c a n a l s o be th e c a u s e of d e s t r u c t i o n f o r all h u m a n i t y
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A l a s i n h u m a n a n d d r y is n o w ou r w o r l d !
T h u s w i l l t h e i n f e r n a l f i r e s w e e p o v e r E a r t h a nd Sky A ll o u r t e a r s c a n h a r d l y h e l p to c oo l
N o r c a l m n o r s u b d u e the b u r n i n g fire!
M a r v e l l o u s t h o u g h s c i e n c e s e e m s to b e E q u a l l y d a n g e r o u s it c a n a l s o be
E v e n to d e s t r o y all h u m a n r a c e
T h u s all c r e a t u r e s ca n d i s a p p e a r w i t h no trace!
p. 41
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IBtJT h e n the w o r l d w o u l d b e w i t h o u t h a p p i n e s s . N i g h t a n d d a y th e H e a r t w o u l d s u f f e r ,
J u s t b e c a u s e of w i c k e d c l e v e r n e s s , I n d u l g i n g in s in s a n d i m p u r e labo u r !
B e h i n d t he a r r o g a n c e of t he b r a i n s , L i e s the w i c k e d n a t u r e of w i l d a n i m a l s , F u l l of m y s t e r i o u s l y e v i l i n f l u e n c e s , B u r n i n g l i k e t h e i n f e r n a l f l a m e s !
U n a b l e to k n o w o n e ' s self,
T h e m e a n i n g s of l i f e ar e e m p t y an d g o n e.
T h u s r u i n e d is t he w h o l e w o r l d ,
W h e r e v i r t u e s a n d m o r a l s s ee no daw n !
F r o m t h e d i s c u s s i o n so f a r w e c a n s e e h o w th e p o e t m a k e s u s e of th e ' c o n v e n t i o n ' to e x p r e s s h i s o w n i d e a s an d p h i l o s o p h y . T h e t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g w h i c h is e s s e n t i a l a n d c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of the N i r a t g e n r e is c a r e f u l l y and s u b t l y m a n i p u l a t e d to the full. The p o e t ' s l o v e - l o n g i n g
* is n o t c a u s e d b y th e i n e v i t a b l e s e p a r a t i o n f r o m hi s l o v e d o n e b u t f r o m h i s d e p r i v a t i o n of an y l o v e d o n e at all.
T h e r e f o r e , th e p o e t l a m e n t s h i s l a c k of l o v e a n d at t he s a m e t i m e he l o o k s b e y o n d h i m s e l f an d l a m e n t s t h e l a c k of l o v e in th e h u m a n h e a r t w h ic h , for him, c a u s e s all the s u f f e r i n g s in o u r m o d e r n w o r l d .
His l a m e n t a t i o n , in fact, r e f l e c t s hi s d e e p l o v e an d a p p r e c i a t i o n of n a t u r e w h i c h is o n e of the s i g n i f i c a n t t h e m e s in all his w o r k s . A c c o r d i n g to t h e N i r a t c o n v e n tion, it is q u i t e c o m m o n to f i n d t h a t the m a i n t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g is c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to the t h e m e of n a t u r e an d time. In o t h e r w o r d s , T h a i p o e t s in N i r a t p o e m s a l w a y s u s e n a t u r e a n d t i m e to e x p r e s s t h e i r s u f f e r i n g s c a u s e d b y s e p a r a t i o n a n d l o v e - l o n g i n g . N e e d l e s s to say, A n g k h a n is too m u c h a w a r e of t h i s ' c o n v e n t i o n ' to n e g l e c t it in his w o r k .
-27-
T h u s it is w o r t h w h i l e d i s c u s s i n g the t h e m e s of n a t u r e a n d t i m e in Lam N a m P h u K r a d u ' n g in s o m e d e p t h an d d e t a i l h e r e s i n c e t h e y are o b v i o u s l y e s s e n t i a l to t h e a p p r e c i a t i o n of the w o r k a n d h e l p us to se e h o w th e p o e t m a n i p u l a t e s ' c o n v e n t i o n ' to c r e a t e ' m o dernity' in his wor k .
Th e t h e m e of n a t u r e ha s a l w a y s b e e n a v e r y e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t in T h a i p o e t r y , e s p e c i a l l y in a N i r a t p o e m w h e r e t h e p o e t u s e s n a t u r e as an e l e m e n t f o r hi s l a m e n t a t i o n . T h e p o e t d e s c r i b e s n a t u r e in r e l a t i o n to h is o w n f e e l i n g s a n d s u f f e r i n g s at t h e m o m e n t . K h l o n g T h a w a t h o t s a m a t . a f o r e - r u n n e r of th e N i r a t type, is an o b v i o u s e x a m p l e of h o w the p o e t e x p r e s s e s his l o v e - l o n g i n g t h r o u g h t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of n a t u r e . He d e s c r i b e s th e c h a n g e of s e a s o n s a n d p l a n t s w h i c h all r e m i n d h i m of his b e l o v e d . T h e rain, the sun, the heat, the w i n d and t he c l o u d s , all h e l p to r e f l e c t his p a i n s a n d s u f f e r i n g s c a u s e d b y hi s d e s i r e a n d l o v e - l o n g i n g . 1
P r i n c e T h a m m a t h i b e t , o n e of the m o s t o u t s t a n d i n g p o e t s of the A y u t h a y a p e r i o d , a l s o m a k e s u s e of th e t h e m e of t i m e a n d n a t u r e in h i s w e l l - k n o w n N i r a t poem, N i r a t P h r a b a t . It is q u i t e c o m m o n f o r a T h a i p o e t to d e s c r i b e n a t u r e in r e l a t i o n to h i s b e l o v e d on e b y u s i n g the t e c h n i q u e of pu n a n d t r a n s f e r e n c e of m e a n i n g s . 2 T h e n a m e s of trees, f l o w e r s ,
f ruit, b i r d s a n d f i s h u s u a l l y s e r v e to e x p r e s s the p o e t ' s a d m i r a t i o n for h i s b e l o v e d , the r e m e m b r a n c e of joys and h a p p i n e s s he s h a r e s w i t h h e r a n d at the s a m e t i m e his d e s i r e and s u f f e r i n g s c a u s e d b y s e p a r a t i o n .
^Manas Chitakasem, op. cit., p. 144.
^Ibid. pp. 157-67.
T h i s ' c o n v e n t i o n ' is, in fact, n o t l i m i t e d to a N i r a t p o e m a l o n e b u t c a n b e f o u n d in o t h e r t y p e s of p o e t r y s u c h as in a n a r r a t i v e p o e m or e v e n in an epi c . H o w e v e r , s i n c e th e t h e m e of l o v e - l o n g i n g is p r o m i n e n t in a N i r a t poem, t h i s ' c o n v e n t i o n * is e v e n m o r e d e f i n i t e l y e m p h a s i z e d and m a n i p u l a t e d .
Th e t h e m e of n a t u r e is v e r y p r o m i n e n t in L a m N a m Ph u K r a d u 1ng a n d t he p o e t e v e n d e c l a r e s in hi s w o r k t h a t it is o n l y h i s d e e p l o v e and a p p r e c i a t i o n of n a t u r e t h a t i n s p i r e s h i m to c o m p o s e t h i s work.
p . 163
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C o m p o s e d f r o m t h e d e e p e s t l o v e f o r n a t u r e . No m a t t e r h o w m a n y e x i s t e n c e s to come, T h e s a m e l o v e m a y I f e e l f o r e v e r !
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T h u s it is n o t s u r p r i s i n g to f i n d t h a t in t h i s N i r a t t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of n a t u r e is m o r e e m p h a s i z e d t h a n t h a t of t he j o u r n e y or t he p l a c e s . In fact, we c a n s a y t h a t the i m p o r t a n c e of t h e j o u r n e y s e e m s to be s e c o n d a r y w h e r e a s t h e p o e t ' s a d m i r a t i o n of n a t u r e a n d his p h i l o s o p h i c a l c o n t e m p l a t i o n of it a p p e a r m o r e p r o m i n e n t .
This, h o w e v e r , d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t the p o e t i g n o r e s t h e c o n v e n t i o n in a N i r ^ t p o e m to u s e n a t u r e as an e l e m e n t f o r l a m e n t a t i o n . B y u s i n g the t e c h n i q u e of p u n a n d t r a n s f e r e n c e of m e a n i n g s , t h e p o e t e x p r e s s e s h i s s u f f e r i n g s an d l o v e - l o n g i n g t h r o u g h th e d e s c r i p t i o n of n a t u r e .
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‘Th e s c e n t of kaeo f l o w e r r e m i n d s me of you, my b e l o v e d , p r e c i o u s to me as m y eyes, e v e n in m y n e x t l i f e I l o n g fo r you, my i d e a l l a d y . 1
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p . 29
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If t h e p o e t in the p a s t n o r m a l l y u s e d the t h e m e of n a t u r e o n l y as an e l e m e n t f o r l a m e n t a t i o n , A n g k h a n s e e m s to be m o r e p h i l o s o p h i c a l a n d s e r i o u s f o r he u s e s n a t u r e as
1Lilit Phra Lo (Bangkok, 1965), p. 62.
2 _ v _ _ _
Dhanit Yupho, Phraprawat phraniphon chofa Thammathibet (Bangkok, 1973), p. 29.
- 31 -
a m a i n s u b j e c t f o r c o n t e m p l a t i o n . S i n c e the p o e t s u f f e r s f r o m h i s l o n e l i n e s s an d l a c k of love, he t u r n s t o w a r d s n a t u r e as a c o n s o l a t i o n . He d e c l a r e s e x p l i c i t l y t h a t he h a s no m o r e f a i t h in w o m e n n o r h u m a n n a t u r e a n d thus p r e f e r s to d e v o t e h i m s e l f to n a t u r e a n d th e art of p o e t r y .
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Alas, m y s a d a n d l o n e l y life, H o w it g r o w s l i k e w i l d trees,
S u r r o u n d e d b y m e r c i l e s s h e a r t s
B e i n g h a r m e d , w o u n d e d a n d d e s t r o y e d I T h u s I c a n no l o n g e r f e e l an y l o v e F or all t h i s c r u e l h u m a n i t y !
If th e w o r l d r a n out of ar t or p o e t r y I w o u l d r a t h e r b e c o m e a c o r p s e !
In t h i s e x i s t e n c e , p o e t r y is m y v o c a t i o n , So a b s o l u t e l y a n d truly!
All th e f o u r c h a m b e r s of my h e a r t Ar e f i l l e d w i t h its d i v i n e n ec t a r !
W i t h S ha d o w , m y f o r l o r n frie n d , I h a v e e s c a p e d to t h e s e w o o d s ,
W h e r e t h e k i n d a n d d i v i n e P o e t r y
Is r e v e a l i n g to me th e w o n d e r s of N a t u r e !
B e c a u s e of hi s d e e p l o v e an d a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r n a t u r e , h i s a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s n a t u r e is r a t h e r d i f f e r e n t f r o m o t h e r T h a i p o e t s . A n g k h a n l o o k s at n a t u r e v e r y c l o s e l y a n d g i v e s e q u a l v a l u e to e v e r y e l e m e n t in n a t u r e . F o r him, the sand, s t o n e s or e a r t h are as p r e c i o u s as any p r e c i o u s ston e s .
E v e r y n a t u r a l o b j e c t is r e l a t e d to e v e r y o t h e r a n d all
a r e i n t e r d e p e n d e n t . A t i n y d r o p of d e w h e l p s to c r e a t e the o c e a n an d w i t h o u t i r o n an d tin, g o l d w o u l d n o t h a v e an y v a l u e . T he p o e t a p p r e c i a t e s e v e n the m o s t i n s i g n i f i c a n t t h i n g in n a t u r e , t h e r e f o r e th e s m a l l e s t a n d s i m p l e s t f l o w e r s or e v e n the m o s t u n p l e a s a n t and u g l i e s t i n s e c t s are w o r t h y of his a d m i r a t i o n .
p. 14
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Are, no d o u b t , m o r e v i r t u o u s an d p r e c i o u s T h a n any g e m s or d i a m o n d s !
