Sunthorn Phu Day (วันสุนทรภู่)

 

June 26^th of every year is celebrated in Thailand as Sunthorn Phu day (วันสุทรภู่). Sunthorn Phu is Thailand’s best-known royal poet in Rattanakosin era (สมัยรัตนโกสินทร์) in the reign of King Rama II. Every Thai student has to learn his poem at school.

On Sunthorn Phu day, the students take part in writing competitions and listen to his poems.

I still remember his Phra Aphai Mani poems (กลอนพระอภัยมณี) I learned when I was 14. It is about two princes get banned from their palace by their father. During their journey, one of the brothers, Phra Apai Mani, is seduced by a beautiful woman who changes into a sea ogress (นางผีเสื้อสมุทร). Later he fell in love with a mermaid; they have a son named Sudsakorn (สุดสาคร). (He was born at Ko Kaeo Pisadan without ever seeing his father. When he grew up he starts his adventure to seek his father). The sea ogress becomes jealous, and goes after them. His brother Sri Suvan (ศรีสุวรรณ) and a couple of warriors want to rescue him.

If you have been to Samed island, I am sure you have seen the statue of Phra Aphai Mani sitting by the mermaid near Sai Kaew beach (หาดทรายแก้ว), and the statue of the sea ogress in front of the main pier.

 

There are a few Thai films based on this popular legend, including The Adventure of Sudsakorn and the Legend of Sudsakorn. There is also a Thai comic series with the name Apaimanee Saga.

Phu left behind a legacy of poems that have become famous over time because of their description of Thai history. In 1986, the 200th anniversary of his birth, Phu was honored by UNESCO as a great world poet.

A statue of Phu was erected in Klaeng District (อำเภอแกลง) , Rayong Province (จังหวัดระยอง), the birthplace of his father.

 

The Story of Phra Abhai Mani (English version):

http://sakchaip.tripod.com/bookworm/sunthorn/abhai_a.html

 

Here are some famous poems of Sunthorn Phu:

[1] A small part from Sudsakorn

แล้วสอนว่าอย่าไว้ใจมนุษย์
มันแสนสุดลึกล้ำเหลือกำหนด
ถึงเถาวัลย์พันเกี่ยวที่เลี้ยวลด
ก็ไม่คดเหมือนหนึ่งในน้ำใจคน

กลอนสุนทรภู่ บางตอนจาก “สุดสาคร” 

[2] A small part from Phra Aphai Mani poems

อันนินทากาเลเหมือนเทน้ำ
ไม่ชอกช้ำเหมือนเอามีดมากรีดหิน
แค่องค์พระปฎิมายังราคิน
คนเดินดินหรือจะสิ้นคนนินทา

กลอนสุนทรภู่ บางตอนจาก “พระอภัยมณี”

[3] A small part from Phra Aphai Mani poems

เขาย่อมเปรียบเทียบความว่ายามรัก
แต่น้ำผักต้มขมชมว่าหวาน
ครั้นรักจางห่างเหินไปเนิ่นนาน
แต่น้ำตาลว่าเปรี้ยวไม่เหลียวแล

กลอนสุนทรภู่ บางตอนจาก “พระอภัยมณี”