Xaysouvanh Phengphong
(sy-soo-vun pang-pawng)
Bilingual Poet-Writer and Former Pilot
Born 17 October 1950 in ThaNgone, a small riverside village on NamNgum river, City of Xaythany, Vientiane Capital of Laos. His father was a teacher who read the heritage epic SungSeenSign and others folktales since Xaysouvanh’s elementary years. The KubNgum (regional folk sing along the NamNgum river - a form of poetry) has stuck in the teenager’s head.
Xaysouvanh - the poet: He started writing poems at age of 15, when he was a junior student in Lycée of Vientiane. While a student, he had the opportunity to learn Lao language with three Teachers who are Poets. He was a student of Professor Somchinh Pierre Ngin (President of the Lao Language Academy who was decorated the Gold Medal Award of Italy Poetry) for 2 years. As a senior, Xaysouvanh learned the French literature of the 16th 17th and 18th Centuries. He graduated in the “Mathematics and Sciences of Nature” series certified by the Minister of Education of France in 1969.
Xaysouvanh received his flyer’s wing: He certified from the US Air Force during Vietnam War (1971-73). He then graduated from the Higher Civilian Flying Institute in the Soviet Union in 1976. He became the Antonov-24 Squadron Commander of the National Lao Airlines where he also flew as Instructor-Pilot and Test-Pilot. Xaysouvanh used to be co-pilot of the King’s airplane and the Captain of the President’s airplane in Laos. He served his native country for 16 years before retiring from the sky. He resettled in the United States of America in February 1991. He graduated with a degree as a Certified Computer Programmer in Salt Lake City in 1994. He became a US Citizen on 11 September 1997.
Xaysouvanh visited more than 20 countries before residing in Salt Lake City, States of Utah, USA.
Recognitions and Awards: Dozens of the Editor’s Certificate of Excellence / PoetryFest Master Workshop Diploma / Received the “Great Poets Across America - Award Winning Poet” Pin of 2013 / The Poetry Gold Medal of Excellence in 2013 / Poet of the Year Awards 2015 and 2016 / The Hall of Fame Awards 2015 and 2017 of the PoetryFest in West Coast.
Members: Premier Member of Poetry Nation, Lifetime Member of the Famous Poets Society (PoetryFest) and Lifetime Member of PoetrySoup where the International Poets posted their works.
Published works: Published works in Laos and Thailand, a short story in France, and a poem in Bulgaria.
In the USA, some short stories and poems are published in the Seang Khaen magazine of San Diego, CA. One poem is chronicled in the “AMERICA AT THE MILLENNIUM - The Best Poems and Poets of the 20th Century”, “Great Poems of the Western World” 2010 and 2015”, “International Who’s Who in Poetry” 2012, “The Best Poets of 2013”, “American Poets” 2016 and about 2 dozen of poetry collection books in East and West Coasts.
Self-published books: “To Paint the World with Letters”, “Mountain Stream”, “Escape Self-shadow”, “The Unfinished Painting”, “Leaves in the Wind” in Lao language.
“Unique Moon”, “Dancing Flame” and ”White Cloud” in American language.
“Birds of Ten Autumn” novel in Lao language in 2018 (used to publish in Laos and in Thailand).
Edited “SungSeenSign - the Heritage Epic of Lao Ethnic” 2020. Edited “The Cranky Boy” - a Famed Lao Folktale in 2021. Crafted “Sew Swart” an Epic of 17th Century in today’s language.