The Unbroken Verse: A History of Cambodian Poets and Writers

The Unbroken Verse: A History of Cambodian Poets and Writers

Chapter One: The Sage of the Paddy Fields: The Enduring Legacy of Krom Ngoy In the great pantheon of Khmer literature, there is no figure more beloved, more revered, or more quintessentially Cambodian than the great sage and folk poet known as Krom Ngoy. Born Ouk Ou in 1865, he was not a prince or a courtly scholar, but a peasant farmer from the province of Kandal. He was a man of the earth, who, despite losing his sight, possessed a profound vision of the Khmer soul. Through his mastery of the Chapei Dong Veng, the two-stringed lute, he became a traveling bard, chanting spontaneous, witty, and deeply wise poetry that offered moral guidance to the common people. His work is a perfect fusion of Buddhist philosophy and rustic common sense, and he is rightfully considered the father of modern Khmer poetry and a timeless ethical guide for the nation. The Man and his Art Krom Ngoy lived the life of an ordinary farmer. He understood the struggles of the harvest, the importance of community, an…