Cambodia had a rich and varied traditional literature. There are many legends, tales, poems and songs of very ancient origin that were not put into writing until the 19th and 20th centuries and that until then had been memorized and told for generations.

Krom Ngoy (1865-1936)
Poet Ou or Krom Ngoy was a famous Khmer poet and player of “Kse Diev”, a Khmer traditional one string instrument. He was well liked by the king and officials was entitled “Phee-rom Pheasa” which would means one who is excellent in the use of language. . Ou was his name, but later on was given another name by the King to Ngoy in order not to duplicate with another royal official whose name was also Ou. Many of his poems, which often aimed at guiding to the people about their life, raising their children and about preservation of the Khmer culture and literature, were used as texts learning at many Cambodian schools. Krom Ngoy comes to symbolize as a Khmer icon during his time and afterwards. His poems rhymed so perfect. They memorize and hypnotise and captivate the audience’s imagination when sang in the forms of the Chapei songs.

This booklet combines most of Famous Traditional Cambodia Poems, like: "Chbap Pros", "Chbap Srei", Chbap Kraam", "Chbap Kerkal", "Bandam Kraam Ngoy",...