A Farang Poet in Thailand: Interview with Ajarn David
Seen Above: The Thailand-made GPX motorcycle which Ajarn David has used to visit over 200 Buddhist temples in Sakon Nakhon.
The following is an interview conducted by Khun Angsuma Tappila with Ajarn David, author of the new book of poetry “Poems from Sakon Nakhon,” published by Ysaan Books (2025). Ajarn David is a longtime resident of Thailand and a lecturer at Sakon Nakhon Rajabhat University.
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Sawasdee ka, Ajarn David! You’ve lived and taught in Thailand for over 20 years — what first inspired you to write Poems from Sakon Nakhon about our country?
Aj. David: Sawasdee krub! There are so many misconceptions about Thailand, especially rural places like Sakon Nakhon. After 20 years here, I wanted to write “Poems from Sakon Nakhon” to share a fresh view of Thai culture and village life — things only a farang like me, who’s lived here so long, might notice.
Many of your poems, like the ones dealing with the rainy, cool, and hot seasons, capture Thailand’s nature so vividly. How did you learn to see our landscapes through a poet’s eyes?
Aj. David: It began with my passion for literature and poetry, especially classic authors like Hermann Hesse, Rainer Maria Rilke, Lawrence Durrell, Pablo Neruda, and others. I immersed myself in the worlds of these authors as a college student, and slowly was able to see the world with greater sensitivity and empathy. I wrote two published books of poetry over 20 years ago, and then stopped until I became inspired to write this book as a way to give back to Thailand, my adopted home.
In “The noodle seller” and “Some mangos are sweet,” you write about everyday Thai life — street food and markets. Why do you think these small moments are important for poetry?
Aj. David: Small moments of everyday life are always important for poetry. They are easy to miss but can reveal so much about people and places, and also at times be heartbreakingly beautiful.
Your poem about “Mae yai” shows deep respect for Thai grandmothers. What did teaching Thai students teach you about family values here that shaped this poem?
Aj. David: My own Thai family has formed my understanding of Thai family values. I have a Thai wife, with a large extended family, and two Thai daughters. These same values I have seen expressed over and over again by my university students, so I know that my personal experience with beloved Thai grandmothers and other revered family members is universal.
Poems that deal with “Khao Phansa” and “Mae Thorani” touch on Thai Buddhism. As a foreigner, how did you come to understand and write about our spiritual traditions?
Aj. David: I have visited over 200 Buddhist temples in Sakon Nakhon, and have been interested in Buddhist philosophy and art since my student days. I view Thai temples as not only a places for meditation and contemplation, but as little Buddhist art galleries. The sculptures and paintings are always different in some unique way.
You explore the language of love in Thailand, highlighting the nuances of words like “ruk” (love) and “dtok loom ruk” (fall in love). What do you find special about how Thai language expresses feelings?
Aj. David: The simplicity of the Thai language perfectly matches the needs of the heart, which are best expressed in simple, honest, authentic terms. Of course, the many “jai” (heart) words in Thai also helps with the genuine expression of feelings.
In one poem, you write about our smiles and the “Siam spirit.” How do you see this famous Thai trait after living here so long?
Aj. David: That’s not an easy thing to encapsulate in a short answer. But an important aspect of the Siam spirit is its ability to recognize the beauty and joy in the everyday things of life.
You dive into Thai social ideas like being “greng-jai” and “loss of face”. How did you learn about concepts like “greng-jai” and “sia naa,” and why did you put them in your poems?
Aj. David: You can’t successfully navigate life in Thailand without fully understanding what it means to be greng jai and how to help others save face. Unfortunately, most farangs aren’t very good at it. So, I felt it important to write a poem about each.
Your poem about the legend of Nong Han Lake tells a Thai love story. What drew you to our folklore, and how did you choose which stories to write about?
Aj. David: I am most interested in stories from Thai folklore that reveal a universal message across cultures. The legend of Nong Han lake is a good one because it deals with unrequited love, which can be both a tragedy and a boon.
You celebrate many things about Thai culture, like your poem that describes the Isaan khaen instrument and barefoot dancers. What is it about Isaan culture that you love so much as a poet?
Aj. David: I love the earthiness of Isaan culture, the products still made by hand (in the same way they have been for centuries), and in the slow pace of life that allows you to savor the details of the moment.
You praise butterfly pea tea over soda, a curious choice for a farang. How did you grow to enjoy Thai drinks and flavors during your time here?
Aj. David: It certainly wasn’t instantaneous. There are many Thai drinks, dishes, and sauces (like nam jim jao) that I absolutely love now but didn’t like at all when I first arrived to Thailand in 2002. The key was learning how to step back from my preconceptions about flavors, and explore new tastes with an analytical and curious mind.
You acknowledge in one poem that you’ll never be Thai, but you see a “grander vision” as an outsider. What does this mean to you, and how has being a farang shaped your poetry?
Aj. David: It all comes down to greater freedom — not being confined by the constructs of the society and language in which you were raised. While I grew up in America, my years living in Thailand has broken up my old mindset. It’s distanced me from the way the average American and native English speaker thinks: how they arrange their thoughts, ideas, and perceptions. At the same time, I’ll never be a Thai and see the world quite like they do, either. So, I get to live my life from a unique position, with a mind that has greater freedom to roam, and hopefully gain greater insight.
Your book ends with a dramatic cobra scene. Why did you choose that as your “last poem” from Sakon Nakhon? Is it a goodbye to the region?
Aj. David: No, it’s not a goodbye. Sakon Nakhon is where I have built a home and family. However, I’ve always had a heightened awareness of the tenuousness of life, and how death can come knocking at any time. My last book of poetry was over 20 years ago, and I don’t know when or if I’ll ever be inspired to write another one. So, that poem seemed to be a fitting end to the book.
Your poems use simple English but feel deep and Thai. Did you write them with Thai readers in mind, or were they for an international audience too?
Aj. David: I wrote the poems for both an international and Thai audience. My use of simple English (compared to the elaborate language often found in modern poetry) reflects the influence of Thai culture and language on my own thoughts in English — thoughts which are now stripped of all pretentiousness, needless words, and complexity.
In your poem about the Thai language, you call our words “tiny jewels.” As a teacher and poet, what do you love most about the Thai language?
Aj. David: It’s flowing simplicity and beauty, and how it is perfectly suited to being spoken while smiling instead of with a frown.
Poetry isn’t as big in Thailand as novels or songs. What do you hope Thai readers — especially students — take away from your book?
Aj. David: Yes, Thai poetry has never had a big fan base, largely because of its complexity and rigid forms. Traditional Thai poetry is very hard to write and (for many Thais) hard to understand. Most Thais aren’t familiar with free verse poetry, in Thai or English, which is much more accessible to all readers. So, I hope these poems will encourage Thai students to explore free verse in their native language and in English. Perhaps most of all, I hope they will have gained greater appreciation of their culture and language by seeing it through the eyes of a foreigner who has made Thailand his home.
“Poems from Sakon Nakhon” (Thai Poetry in English) is available internationally in paperback and hardcover via Amazon. In Thailand, it can be bought at Ysaan Books’ online store on Shopee and Lazada.
