Cambodia: Pathya Vat / Go Vat

[Tinker]

Explore the Craft of Writing Poetry
Southeast Asian Verse

Cambodia is found in Southeast Asia bordered by Viet Nam, Thailand and Loas. Until the 19th century most documents were written on the Tra leaf. "Tra leaf books record information on legends of the Khmer people, the Ramayana, the origin of Buddhism and other prayer book series. They are greatly taken care of and wrapped in cloth as to protect from moisture and the jungle climate." Wikipedia. Some of the prayers may be written in verse but I can find nothing to confirm this. It is only since the 19th century that I can find any recognition of poetry and even then it was not written to be read but to be performed, often recited or sung.

It seems early Cambodian poetry was usually religious in nature. Contemporary Cambodian poetry found in English often describes experiences and expresses the emotions of a people who have survived genocide. In the 1970's the Khmer Rouge attempted to turn back the clock to the 11th century and wipe out all intellectualism in the country. Destroying temples, libraries, denying Western medicine and killing over a million Cambodians. Pol Pot and his armies targeted ethnic minority groups, teachers, doctors and lawyers.

Khnhomm saum bangkum            champuoh Preah Puth trung kung khpuoh phott leu trai loka Neam Preah Kodamm baramm sasda chambang leu moha neak prach taing lay,

Translation I salute the Lord Buddha who resides the highest of the tri-world. The name is Preah Kodamm              the Supreme who is greater than all sages.

from Corpse Watching by Sarith PeouTinfish Press 2007 "The river is swollen The current is strong Corpses float by all day long."

• The Go Vat is a stanzaic form which according the Poet's Garrett apparently was popular in Cambodia in the late 1800s. The line length and refrain are suspected to be influenced by the French who colonized Cambodia during that period. The elements of the Go Vat are:
  1. stanzaic, written in any number of tercets.
  2. syllabic, each line is most commonly 8 syllables.
  3. rhymed, turned on only 2 rhymes, aaB aaB aaB etc.
  4. written with a refrain. L3 of each tercet is a repetition of either the whole or part of L3 of the 1^st tercet.
     
     Example Poem
      
• Pathya Vat is a Cambodian stanzaic form that I first found at Vol Central. The Pathya Vat is meant to be performed and apparently taught to Buddhist monks in training. The style of religious recitation is as important as the content. According to Bob Neuman the presenters can use any one of these styles, kmeng vatt - temple boy, piporanea - description, tumnuonh - grief, smaut- reciting, kamhoeung - anger, chbapp - traditional code, ka-ek lot - crow hops and ka-ek baul - crow calls. If I run across an audio of one or more of these styles I will provide a link. But for now we can only use our imaginations. The form dominates about 70% of Cambodian Buddhist song texts.  The elements of the Pathya Vat are:
  1. syllabic, each line is 4 syllables
  2. stanzaic, written in any number of quatrains.
  3. rhymed. Rhyme scheme xaab xbbc xccd etc x being unrhymed. Note: A unique chain effect occurs in this rhyme linking the middle lines of subsequent stanzas to the last line of the previous stanza.  

     06 BMW 540i by Judi Van Gorder

     Beamer for sale
     a special car
     not a Jaguar
     not a canoe
     
     lots of dollars
     I paid when new
     a midnight blue
     more reasons why
     
     so few miles
     easy on the eye
     do not be shy
     it runs well too
     
     make an offer
     no work to do
     looks good on you
     ready to buy?

[Tinker]

Verse Form:  Pathya Vat

Temple Boy                        

I climb the steps
of the temple
my life simple
dedicated

my Lord Buddha
I have waited
time undated
ready to serve

I clear my mind
watch and observe
listen with verve
my chores are done

with earth below
                                                                                 above the sun
                                                                                 I become one
                                                                                 open to all 
                                                                                           ~~Judi Van Gorder

[Tinker]

 

Chau Chnam Thmey

South East Asia
enters New Year
with vison clear
new creation

Clean and prepare
throughout nation
each home station
good things in store

Less fortunate
the lame and poor
honored, cared for
help feel secure

Water gives life
blessing future
Lord Buddha nurture
Khmer people
                               ~~Judi Van Gorder
                                                   Verse Form: Pathya Vat

April 13 is Cambodian, Burmese and Lao New Year.
Chaul Chnam Thmey is Khmer for "Enter New Year"
Khmer is a Southeast Asian ethnic group including Cambodia, Burma, now Myanmar and Laos