Verse on rural life lands poet Sea-Write

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Verse on rural life lands poet Sea-Write

 

Published on Aug 18, 2004

 

 

Suphan Buri native Rewat Panpipat singled out for his ?profound work?

 

A poetry book that celebrates the nostalgic charm of Thai country life earned its author the 2004 SeaWrite Award yesterday.

 

Members of the SeaWrite judging committee, chaired by MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, unanimously agreed that ?Maenam Ramleuk? (Recalling the River) by Rewat Panpipat proved to be the best poetry book among the seven finalists in this year?s competition, which recognised Thai poetry.

 

Suphan Buri native Rewat, who was not present at the award announcement, took the judging panel by storm with his poetry, a reminiscence of his childhood in a blissful Thai rural village at the heart of Thailand?s agrarian society that, in the author?s view, is fast disappearing.

 

According to the sevenmember judging committee, which included famous poet Nawarat Pongpaiboon and writercolumnist Dr Kriangsak Charoenwongsak, Rewat presents a vivid description of his innocent childhood by drawing on places, events, people and other surroundings that have their own stories to tell.

 

?Each snapshot of his life is multidimensional. The book describes the meaning of memories of his childhood that has a powerful impact on his adult life,? read part of the award recitation.

 

?The poetry book stands out because the author employs several literary devices that lend unity, subtlety and universality to his work,? the recitation continued.

 

Dr Treesilp Boonkajorn, one of the judges, said ?Maenam Ramleuk? was a profound work refreshingly told using simple language.

 

?His poetry looks simple, but it?s dynamic just like still water that runs deep,? Treesilp said, adding that the book excels in capturing scenes of Thai country life that remind the reader of Thailand?s agrarian roots and the traditional way of living for many locals in bygone days.

 

However, Treesilp said that Rewat ? like other finalists and Thai poets in general ? offered nothing new in his work when tackling the same old subjects already overworked by other SeaWrite winners.

 

She wondered why many poets like Rewat preferred to dwell in their personal world rather than tackle relevant issues in presentday Thai society.

 

?I?m wondering what happened to our poets,? she said.

 

Kriangsak, who also prefers to see poets take on presentday issues, lamented the fact that the new generation of Thai poets had chosen not to raise questions by painting a realistic portrait of society today.The book, according to judge Thanet Vetparada, exhibited a new rhyming scheme that broke away from traditional poetic rules and was filled with refreshing imagery of sunlight, rice paddies, villages and rural fashion.

 

Another judge, Nitaya Masawisuth, who was impressed with the author?s sense of humour, compared the book to recent smashhit Thai film ?Fan Chan? (My Girl).

 

?Fan Chan? recalls the childhood experiences of a group of urbanites who grew up in the pristine environs of rice paddies, clean canals and sacred Buddhist monasteries.Rewat will receive a cash prize of Bt100,000.

 

He will available to meet his fans at the Oriental Hotel tomorrow.

 

The hotel will also host a dinner reception for SeaWrite winners from each Asean member country on October 12.

 

Manote Tripathi

 

The Nation