Emelihter Kihleng
Encyclopedia
Emelihter Kihleng is a Micronesian
(and more specifically Pohnpei
an) poet
. She is the first ever Micronesian to publish a collection of poetry in the English language
, and is one of few published Micronesian poets.
Born in Guam
, she obtained a Master's degree
in Creative Writing
at the University of Hawai'i in 2003, and subsequently taught English as a Second Language at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei.
In May 2008, she published her first collection of poems, My Urohs. Samoa
n writer Albert Wendt
described her poetry as "refreshingly innovative and compelling, a new way of seeing ourselves in our islands, an important and influential addition to our literature" - meaning Pacific Islander
literature. I-Kiribati
poet Teresia Teaiwa
described it as "ethnographic
poetry", "lush with the languages and imagery of Pohnpei and Micronesia", "an exciting new contribution to Pacific literature". Samoan writer Sia Figiel
described her poetry as "disturbing and haunting, illuminating and tender", "woven from the violent threads of post-colonialism, laced with patches of ISland humour", "a powerful addition to Pacific Literature". American
poet Mark Nowak
also praised her work.
Kihleng explained that the urohs is "the quintessential dress of a Pohnpeian woman as a symbol of Pohnpeian women and Pohnpeian culture. I chose to title the collection My Urohs [...] because [...] the essence of the collection as a whole [is] colorful, tragic, beautiful, colonized and indigenous all at the same time".
In February 2009, Kihleng and University of Guam
professor of English Dr. Evelyn Flores announced their intention to publish the first ever anthology of Micronesia
n literature, calling for contributions from writers from Guam, Palau
, the Northern Mariana Islands
, Nauru
, Kiribati
, the Marshall Islands
, and the Federated States of Micronesia
. Kihleng noted that, while Polynesia
and Melanesia
had made a notable impact on Pacific literature, Micronesia still appeared to be "invisible".
According to the University of Hawai'i, "[m]uch of her work is about Pohnpeian identity and diaspora". The Office of Insular Affairs
, a branch of the United States government's Department of the Interior, describes her as "one the most gifted young writers in the Pacific".
As of 2008, Kihleng lives in Guam, and, according to the United States government, is "working at the University of Guam's Violence Against Women Prevention Program".
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
(and more specifically Pohnpei
Pohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
an) poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. She is the first ever Micronesian to publish a collection of poetry in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and is one of few published Micronesian poets.
Born in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, she obtained a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Creative Writing
Creative writing
Creative writing is considered to be any writing, fiction, poetry, or non-fiction, that goes outside the bounds of normal professional, journalistic, academic, and technical forms of literature. Works which fall into this category include novels, epics, short stories, and poems...
at the University of Hawai'i in 2003, and subsequently taught English as a Second Language at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei.
In May 2008, she published her first collection of poems, My Urohs. Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n writer Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt
Albert Wendt, CNZM is a Samoan poet and writer who also lives in New Zealand. Among his works is Leaves of the Banyan Tree .-Biography:...
described her poetry as "refreshingly innovative and compelling, a new way of seeing ourselves in our islands, an important and influential addition to our literature" - meaning Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
literature. I-Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
poet Teresia Teaiwa
Teresia Teaiwa
Teresia Teaiwa is an I-Kiribati and American poet and academic. The University of Oregon describes her as "a groundbreaking scholar in the research of the culture of the Pacific Islands". Teaiwa was born in Honolulu to an I-Kiribati father and an African American mother...
described it as "ethnographic
Ethnography
Ethnography is a qualitative method aimed to learn and understand cultural phenomena which reflect the knowledge and system of meanings guiding the life of a cultural group...
poetry", "lush with the languages and imagery of Pohnpei and Micronesia", "an exciting new contribution to Pacific literature". Samoan writer Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel
Sia Figiel is a contemporary Samoan novelist, poet, and painter.Sia Figiel grew up amidst the traditional Samoan singing and poetry which heavily influenced her writing. Her formal schooling was conducted in Samoa and New Zealand where she also began a BA which was completed at Whitworth College...
described her poetry as "disturbing and haunting, illuminating and tender", "woven from the violent threads of post-colonialism, laced with patches of ISland humour", "a powerful addition to Pacific Literature". American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet Mark Nowak
Mark Nowak
Mark Nowak is an award-winning American poet from Buffalo, New York. Nowak is currently the director of the graduate creative writing program at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.-Works:*Revenants, Coffee House Press, 2000, ISBN 9781566891073...
also praised her work.
Kihleng explained that the urohs is "the quintessential dress of a Pohnpeian woman as a symbol of Pohnpeian women and Pohnpeian culture. I chose to title the collection My Urohs [...] because [...] the essence of the collection as a whole [is] colorful, tragic, beautiful, colonized and indigenous all at the same time".
In February 2009, Kihleng and University of Guam
University of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
professor of English Dr. Evelyn Flores announced their intention to publish the first ever anthology of Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
n literature, calling for contributions from writers from Guam, Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
, the Northern Mariana Islands
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
, Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
, Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
, and the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
. Kihleng noted that, while Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
and Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
had made a notable impact on Pacific literature, Micronesia still appeared to be "invisible".
According to the University of Hawai'i, "[m]uch of her work is about Pohnpeian identity and diaspora". The Office of Insular Affairs
Office of Insular Affairs
The Office of Insular Affairs is a unit of the United States Department of the Interior that oversees federal administration of several United States possessions...
, a branch of the United States government's Department of the Interior, describes her as "one the most gifted young writers in the Pacific".
As of 2008, Kihleng lives in Guam, and, according to the United States government, is "working at the University of Guam's Violence Against Women Prevention Program".