Listen to what the blind woman sees
“Practice makes perfect” we are often told. It certainly worked for poet Hatairatt Jaturawapana. After years of practice, her efforts have finally paid off as she was chosen as this year’s Seven Book Awards winner in the poetry category.
Her book, Tookkhana Grajangchad Sampathjai, which roughly translates as Every Clear, Touching Moment, is a compilation of 71 poems written by Hatairatt over the past five years.
Hatairatt lost the sight in her left eye after she was put in an incubator as an infant. Things went from bad to worse at the age of 14, when her vision went completely. It was a tough time, she admits. She felt confused and lost. During lunch time at school, while her friends went out to the playground to play, she was left alone.
A Thai language teacher consoled her by reading her poetry every day. Two books that the teacher often read from were Mere Movement and Aspiration Poet written by the SEA Write Award-winners Naowarat Pongpaiboon and Angkarn Kalayanapong, respectively. The beauty of their language touched Hatairatt and helped her to cope. Eventually, she was inspired to start composing verse of her own.
A judge at the Seven Book Awards said Hatairatt, who uses the pseudonym Rinsattha Karnjanawatee, stood out for her beautiful rhymes and emotional expression depicted through simple language. The book was also praised for its positivity, encouraging people to remain hopeful and to not give up despite the hardships they may face.
Hatairatt, now 27, is a graduate of Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University in communication arts. She talked to Life about her book and her poetry.
HOW DID YOU BECOME INTERESTED IN POETRY?
I was depressed because I didn’t know what to do after I lost my vision. When the teacher read me poetry, I didn’t understand all the meaning behind it. Yet, I felt the beauty of the rhymes and words. I loved to read poetry. Hearing it helped to heal my mind and encouraged me to try things for myself.
YOU’VE SAID THAT YOU WRITE POETRY EVERY DAY. WHY?
During high school, I went to poetry camp. On the last day, Naowarat was a guest speaker. I had always thought of him as a magician whose poems were magic, and I imagined that he spoke in rhymes. But in person, his language was simple. But it was still beautiful. I asked him what I should do if I wanted to write like him. He told me to write poetry every day. At that time, I didn’t believe writing every day would change an ordinary student like me into a poet like him. But I did as he said. I’ve written every day for 12 years.
My poems still can’t compare to Naowarat’s, but I understand that practice is significant. When I am a speaker at poetry camp, I always tell them to write something every day. At the beginning, it’s difficult because you don’t know what to write. Writing poems daily encouraged me to become creative and to read more.
APART FROM NAOWARAT AND ANGKARN, WHICH OTHER POETS DO YOU LIKE?
I like the late Sonthikarn Karnjanad. When I was a freshman, I read his romantic poems and I felt moved by them. I was in love at the time and I felt that he was in my heart and expressed how I felt in words. I even cried when I read him sometimes. He made me realise that poetry isn’t only about content, it’s also about emotion.
HOW HAS WRITING POETRY CHANGED YOU?
It’s helped me look at the world in different ways. I used to focus on my own sadness and think it was the most important thing. Writing allowed me to keep a record of my thoughts past, present and future. I’ve learnt to see how other people suffer and understand what they are going through. This understanding helps me to love others.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF POETRY?
Poetry is an expression of culture. Poetry is powerful and inspiring. The power of words can change a person’s life and give people hope.
HOW DO YOU GET INSPIRATION TO WRITE A POEM?
I channel my feelings. When I’m disappointed or regretful. When I cry desperately over something. When I feel that I have no one or that nobody understands me. At least I have my tears; they are my friends. In this way, I wrote the poem The Value Of Tears.
AS A VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON, DO YOU FEEL THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE LIMITED?
Yes. People think there are only three careers for the blind: street singer, masseur or lottery seller. In fact, there are many educated visually impaired people who work in different fields. Everybody should be treated equally, even people with disabilities. You don’t have to think they need special care. For instance, when a footpath is built, it should be built so that everyone can use it.
DO YOU THINK YOU WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT YOU ARE AN AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR?
I think I’ll have opportunities to give back to society more. I aim to do something to make the world better before I die. And this award will allow me to contribute to society even more.