Here is Solt's message to poetry-lovers and fans of Montri, one of the most original and searching poets Thailand has produced since Prince Thammatibes (1715-1755) and Sunthorn Phu (1786-1855).

Montri (1941-2006) wrote most of his pieces in English, and each of his 27 books is a literal and figurative journey. Protagonists relate to historical figures as if they act within the dynamic of an eternal moment. Montri observes by practising a kind of "writing meditation", in which he positions his protagonists as enlightened beings who journey through a soiled and illusionary world.

His poems come poignantly alive because he experiences the modern world in a detached manner, while describing it without relying on worn-out Buddhist nomenclature.

Because of the unfortunate inability of the English-speaking world to believe that the writing of a non-native speaker could be high literature - with the exception of Joseph Conrad, Vladimir Nabokov and some others - coupled with the inability of present-day Thai culture to grasp the relevance of Montri's oeuvre in English to their cultural heritage, some of his 27 books, issued in small editions, could be lost forever.

As "Old as the World" - the complete English poetry books by Montri in two volumes of about 2,000 pages - is being printed in a facsimile edition of 1,000 copies, Montri's poems will travel to all corners of the earth and not be lost. The permanence of impermanence.

To commemorate Montri we will have a ritual reading of each of his books. We ask that 27 people who knew him personally and who are willing to read English poetry aloud partake. Each book will take roughly 20-30 minutes to read.

Although Montri loved Wat Pho and the slumbering Buddha statue, we will read not directly to the Buddha, but in the presence of the Buddha.

You are invited to read one of the books.

Kindly contact highmoonoon@hotmail.com or chujid@gmail.com or (086) 308 2972.