On Dr. Theresa Langis's request, a meeting between me, trilingual poet and writer Puthpong Sao and the American technical writer Theresa -- herself instructor at the Royal University of Laws and Economics (RULE), Phnom Penh -- was held at The Phnom Penh Tower this morning from 9 to 10.
We talked about things related to writing -- her two projects on compiling oral history of Cambodian women's experiences during the KR regime, and my topics on writing three-language poems, short stories, tales for children and novels. She asked for my translation and transcription services to her schemes.
Having been in Cambodia for two and a half years now, she worked in different fields such as with the ECCC (Extraordinary Court for Crimes in Cambodia) and have collected verbal history of KR survivors in several regions of the kingdom.
Answering her enquiries about my past experiences, I talked about my childhood memories about wars since the March 18, 1970 coup d' Etat ... I related to her, saying, "Cock It Twice! Cock It Twice!" to her surprise. It's a projected title of my story, quoting a Khmer military Commander of Kirivong district barracks -- next to my then Junior High School -- as ordering his men to fire at a South-Vietnamese-American aircraft violating Cambodia's airspace in March that year.
She said she knew I had read my poems at Java with Greg Bem's introduction. I said, "I read 6 poems in total." I told her I had talked to Greg before his departure to the USA if he could find some people to take over his role as host for the reading events.
She asked me if I would like to read my works there again and for my opinions on the Monthly Poetry Reading at Java Cafe and "The Phnom Penh Writers Workoshop" hosted by Australian writer Carly Beth Nugent at the Terrace.
I told her both are good for writers and poets, and the difference is that at Java Cafe, some three [featured] readers have been picked up for the reading to the audience, whereas at The Terrace where writers and poets meet, we usually debate among us of each work submitted by the participants.
At the Terrace, we sometimes read our works, such as at the June 15 workshop when Dr. Bryan Humphrey asked me to read my "Remembrance: The Terrace on 95, Writers Workshop", Luke Young read my "How I Write a Poem Intuitively", Carly my "My Dreamed Love" and John Christopher Brown my "Grand Exhibition at Java Cafe". Jehangir Mehentee didn't have enough time to read another of mine.
Theresa de Langis, holding a PhD, has worked in Myanmar, Timor Lest, The Philippines, among other developing countries in the region.
We decided to communicate through email on what we should work together. And below is my poem of the event:
9 o'clock, a girl at the counter said:
"A foreign woman come? Not yet."
Then a middle-aged woman walked by me,
To a front table outside, I could see.
Presuming 'twas her, I then made a call.
She answered "Ah yes," and entered the hall.
"'Tis me, Theresa," self-introduced she.
"Puthpong," nice to know you as friend-to-be.
Seeing you is like having one more chance.
I guess you're a good woman at my glance.
"Khiang introduced me," she said smilingly.
I told her he knows me through Gregory.
Greg was introduced to me by Jennee,
Jennifer Hughes at the WIG,
Who is a godmother of Sovannthat,
A man who introduced me in his part.
"Oh yes," she said, back to what else to tell.
And "How d'you know your English pretty well?"
I answered, "I've learned it since my childhood,
In my six ways that should be understood,
Listening, Thinking, Questioning and Taking notes,
Speaking and Practising well all the quotes."
She smiled and her face was radiantly bright.
I said, "Your grin heartens me to see light."
© rbu_spp July 3, 2014 Puthpong Sao
Photo by Kim Sok (Sok Kipo), holding MBA from Beijing International University, who took me there by his car. He's President of KIPO.
COMMENTS
Bryan Humphrey:
You are an inspiration, Puthpong Sao.
Puthpong Sao:
You're right, Bryan Humphrey. Carly Beth Nugent even asked me whether I write my poems in Khmer first and then translate them into English. "No," I told her. Things go like this: when I read something whether texts or pictures, or watch telly or listen to something and the first inspiration is in any language of the three (Khmer, English or French) I take notes in writing or in my mind and write it in that language. As you see some poems of mine are in English and have no other language (French or Khmer) versions. That's why I wrote a poem "How I Write a Poem Intuitively," as my reply to Carly's question.
Yesterday, I told Theresa de Langis at the meeting that I'd write a poem about the meet. After lunch, I finished it on my phone around 1:30 pm. About to post it, someone called in and it all went off that I had to recall and rewrite it on my phone till nearly 4.
From mid-afternoon Wed when it rained, I wrote "Angry Sky ..." till around midnight, I wrote 5 poems.
Young and Carly, I see your look is young,
Your mind is fresh and your heart is so kind,
Helping edit my short story among,
Things like my English poems as I find,
So precious your kindness and frankness are.
Please accept my thanks for your help, thus far.
Thanks to both Luke Young and Carly Beth Nugent for your nice and helpful comments on my story "Destiny Built in Deep Heart from Both Hands"
Thank Dr. Bryan Humphrey. Your comments are always heartening.
Makara Try:
សូមសរសើរលោកពូដោយស្មោះអស់ពីចិត្ត!
Puthpong Sao:
Thank Makara Try for heartening comment. Best wishes. Have you known Kim Sok (Sok Kipo)? He's just finished his studies for MBA at Jiaotong Beijing International University.
Sok Kipo:
Makara Try is one of my good friends i have known there. He helped me much while i was studying there.
