The rationale of the above poem seems very fuzzy if it is to be judged through the current
reading process. What Sunthornphu tries to convey is that only the loves of one’s mother and
father as well as self-love can be trusted. The last line does not appear to be related to a
trusted love but is an attempt to relate self-love with actions beneficial to oneself. But
4
Sunthornhu did not elaborate why thinking before speaking is the most beneficial thing one can
do to oneself.
Most writings today were penned in order to have people “read” in accordance with the
determined meaning and one must read accordingly in order to derive joy and knowledge from
contemporary writing.
Thus the problem is how Thais who were not used to reading this way adapt after the
introduction of the printing press.