Southeast Asian Poetry: Tension for Unity

Abstract

The author analyzes the tension with which the Southeast Asian poet has to deal in his work. Exposure to Western patterns has changed the traditional fixity of his art, but not releyantly. He has adopted some Western postures but has not really
grasped the spirit of these borrowed modes. She suggests two courses of action for the Southeast Asian poet: Intensify his use and understanding of the Western poetic practices that have a close affinity to already existing indigenous modes, and write about contemporary social problems, using forms and structures evolved from both Western and indigenous traditions.