Bunkong Tuon
@bunkong.bsky.social
Khmer-American. Pushcart-winning poet and writer. Debut novel Koan Khmer out now. Father. Husband. Teacher. Former refugee. Cosmic surveyor.
https://www.bunkongtuon.com
https://www.bunkongtuon.com
I'll be doing a Zoom reading next Thursday. If you are interested in poetry about family and refugee, please consider attending. I always read (and write) from the heart.
Thanks to Ohio Poet Laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour, for putting this together.
Thanks to Ohio Poet Laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour, for putting this together.
November 12, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I'll be doing a Zoom reading next Thursday. If you are interested in poetry about family and refugee, please consider attending. I always read (and write) from the heart.
Thanks to Ohio Poet Laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour, for putting this together.
Thanks to Ohio Poet Laureate, Kari Gunter-Seymour, for putting this together.
I’m recovering, slowly regaining strength. The doctor said I should be back to normal six weeks after the surgery. The other night, my family and I walked around the neighborhood looking at Halloween decorations. Getting ready to take the kids trick-or-treating tomorrow.
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I’m recovering, slowly regaining strength. The doctor said I should be back to normal six weeks after the surgery. The other night, my family and I walked around the neighborhood looking at Halloween decorations. Getting ready to take the kids trick-or-treating tomorrow.
I had an emergency surgery this past weekend. I’m slowly recovering. I want to express my respect and deep gratitude to the nurses, surgeon, & anesthesiologist at Ellis Hospital for saving my life. Thank you!
October 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
I had an emergency surgery this past weekend. I’m slowly recovering. I want to express my respect and deep gratitude to the nurses, surgeon, & anesthesiologist at Ellis Hospital for saving my life. Thank you!
Here's a list of journals that folks recommended: Long Poem Magazine (UK), The Broken Spine (UK), Last Syllable, Missouri Review, Literary Imagination, Blackbird, Ploughshares (for Fall reading period), Adroit, Cincinnati Review, Lothorian Poetry Journal (1/2)
October 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Here's a list of journals that folks recommended: Long Poem Magazine (UK), The Broken Spine (UK), Last Syllable, Missouri Review, Literary Imagination, Blackbird, Ploughshares (for Fall reading period), Adroit, Cincinnati Review, Lothorian Poetry Journal (1/2)
Took my daughter skating. Teaching her about foot placement, pushing, carving. I got on a board too and I felt like a kid again. That’s me, a kid from the 80s.
September 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Took my daughter skating. Teaching her about foot placement, pushing, carving. I got on a board too and I felt like a kid again. That’s me, a kid from the 80s.
I’m honored to be awarded Union College’s Stillman Prize for Faculty Excellence in Research. “Tuon writes poems, stories and personal essays that establish space for Cambodian American literature . . . ."
Happy Sunday, folks!
www.union.edu/news/stories...
Happy Sunday, folks!
www.union.edu/news/stories...
September 7, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I’m honored to be awarded Union College’s Stillman Prize for Faculty Excellence in Research. “Tuon writes poems, stories and personal essays that establish space for Cambodian American literature . . . ."
Happy Sunday, folks!
www.union.edu/news/stories...
Happy Sunday, folks!
www.union.edu/news/stories...
Sometimes I catch myself parenting in the shadow of the Khmer Rouge.
Thanks to @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social and its editors for publishing this poem.
Happy Sunday, All!
Thanks to @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social and its editors for publishing this poem.
Happy Sunday, All!
August 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Sometimes I catch myself parenting in the shadow of the Khmer Rouge.
Thanks to @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social and its editors for publishing this poem.
Happy Sunday, All!
Thanks to @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social and its editors for publishing this poem.
Happy Sunday, All!
I always tell students to write from the heart about things that matter. Life is short, I tell them. Be true to your authentic self.
(an excerpt of an interview on craft I did with Professor Khem Aryal)
(an excerpt of an interview on craft I did with Professor Khem Aryal)
August 10, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I always tell students to write from the heart about things that matter. Life is short, I tell them. Be true to your authentic self.
(an excerpt of an interview on craft I did with Professor Khem Aryal)
(an excerpt of an interview on craft I did with Professor Khem Aryal)
Last day at the beach. Dad and his daughter exercising.
Happy Sunday, Everyone!
Happy Sunday, Everyone!
July 20, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Last day at the beach. Dad and his daughter exercising.
Happy Sunday, Everyone!
Happy Sunday, Everyone!
The other day, talking to a student about the state of our world, I was reminded of what I need to do as a parent, the challenges of raising my kids in these turbulent times: to not let the darkness of the world infect their childhood, to keep the light in.
Hugs to all this Sunday morning.
Hugs to all this Sunday morning.
July 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
The other day, talking to a student about the state of our world, I was reminded of what I need to do as a parent, the challenges of raising my kids in these turbulent times: to not let the darkness of the world infect their childhood, to keep the light in.
Hugs to all this Sunday morning.
Hugs to all this Sunday morning.
Unprompted, my son wrote “LOVE” in the sand. A message that is so much needed in this mutilated world. Love to all.
July 6, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Unprompted, my son wrote “LOVE” in the sand. A message that is so much needed in this mutilated world. Love to all.
My poetry and novel are part of the Proleung Khmer exhibit at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Deep gratitude to the Khmer folks in Lowell for their generous support. I went to read in March of this year a stranger, and they welcomed me with open arms. Thank you for accepting this koan Khmer.
Deep gratitude to the Khmer folks in Lowell for their generous support. I went to read in March of this year a stranger, and they welcomed me with open arms. Thank you for accepting this koan Khmer.
May 18, 2025 at 12:19 PM
My poetry and novel are part of the Proleung Khmer exhibit at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
Deep gratitude to the Khmer folks in Lowell for their generous support. I went to read in March of this year a stranger, and they welcomed me with open arms. Thank you for accepting this koan Khmer.
Deep gratitude to the Khmer folks in Lowell for their generous support. I went to read in March of this year a stranger, and they welcomed me with open arms. Thank you for accepting this koan Khmer.
Happy to have a poem in the Michigan Quarterly Review. There are things that still won’t let me go. Thanks to editor Marcelo Hernandez Castillo for this incredible genre-bending, border-crossing, multimedia issue on memory and migrations. I will spend some time with it.
May 4, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Happy to have a poem in the Michigan Quarterly Review. There are things that still won’t let me go. Thanks to editor Marcelo Hernandez Castillo for this incredible genre-bending, border-crossing, multimedia issue on memory and migrations. I will spend some time with it.
Just in case I have followers from Southern California. I have several readings this weekend and a CSULB event on Monday, Apr. 14 (12:30-1:45 in SPA 209).
It's been a long time since I last set foot in Southern California. I consider it the place of my rebirth! The prodigal son’s return.
It's been a long time since I last set foot in Southern California. I consider it the place of my rebirth! The prodigal son’s return.
April 11, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just in case I have followers from Southern California. I have several readings this weekend and a CSULB event on Monday, Apr. 14 (12:30-1:45 in SPA 209).
It's been a long time since I last set foot in Southern California. I consider it the place of my rebirth! The prodigal son’s return.
It's been a long time since I last set foot in Southern California. I consider it the place of my rebirth! The prodigal son’s return.
She stays in her room all day, drawing, sketching, being with her own thoughts.
She has her art displayed in the state museum.
She is my daughter. I’m proud of her.
She has her art displayed in the state museum.
She is my daughter. I’m proud of her.
April 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
She stays in her room all day, drawing, sketching, being with her own thoughts.
She has her art displayed in the state museum.
She is my daughter. I’m proud of her.
She has her art displayed in the state museum.
She is my daughter. I’m proud of her.
Super excited to return to Lowell, MA, next week to introduce my debute novel, Koan Khmer, to the city with the second largest Cambodian population in the U.S. Thanks to Christine Su for her kind & generous support. I’m very honored to do this.
March 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Super excited to return to Lowell, MA, next week to introduce my debute novel, Koan Khmer, to the city with the second largest Cambodian population in the U.S. Thanks to Christine Su for her kind & generous support. I’m very honored to do this.
I am the featured reader at the historic Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs next week (March 5, a Wednesday). Dylan performed at Caffe Lena in '61 & '62. Quite an honor to be standing on the same stage. Please drop by and participate in the open mic.
Happy Saturday!
Happy Saturday!
March 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I am the featured reader at the historic Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs next week (March 5, a Wednesday). Dylan performed at Caffe Lena in '61 & '62. Quite an honor to be standing on the same stage. Please drop by and participate in the open mic.
Happy Saturday!
Happy Saturday!
I had a great time reading at Stockton University. The students were listening deeply to my stories and poems & asking smart, terrific questions afterward. Thanks @adammiyashiro.bsky.social for being a wonderful host!
February 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I had a great time reading at Stockton University. The students were listening deeply to my stories and poems & asking smart, terrific questions afterward. Thanks @adammiyashiro.bsky.social for being a wonderful host!
I have a few poems in the current issue of the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education & Advancement. “Pomegranate” is for my son. Thanks to editor Bryan Thao Worra for his support.
Please give it a read when you have a minute. Thanks! And Happy Sunday!
docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol20...
Please give it a read when you have a minute. Thanks! And Happy Sunday!
docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol20...
January 26, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I have a few poems in the current issue of the Journal of Southeast Asian American Education & Advancement. “Pomegranate” is for my son. Thanks to editor Bryan Thao Worra for his support.
Please give it a read when you have a minute. Thanks! And Happy Sunday!
docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol20...
Please give it a read when you have a minute. Thanks! And Happy Sunday!
docs.lib.purdue.edu/jsaaea/vol20...
Super happy that “Wanting Kids” is a runner-up for @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social Prize. Huge thanks to editors @domkeykong.bsky.social and @johnnycordova.bsky.social
The world depicted in this poem is no longer mine. It’s like it’s somebody else’s life. Strange, dreamlike, so carefree.
The world depicted in this poem is no longer mine. It’s like it’s somebody else’s life. Strange, dreamlike, so carefree.
January 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Super happy that “Wanting Kids” is a runner-up for @shopoetryjournal.bsky.social Prize. Huge thanks to editors @domkeykong.bsky.social and @johnnycordova.bsky.social
The world depicted in this poem is no longer mine. It’s like it’s somebody else’s life. Strange, dreamlike, so carefree.
The world depicted in this poem is no longer mine. It’s like it’s somebody else’s life. Strange, dreamlike, so carefree.
My daughter took this photo.
Have a brilliant and beautiful New Year, friends!
Have a brilliant and beautiful New Year, friends!
January 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
My daughter took this photo.
Have a brilliant and beautiful New Year, friends!
Have a brilliant and beautiful New Year, friends!
2024 has been a good year in terms of writing. I had two books out: a chapbook and a debut novel. I also won a Pushcart prize, which I thought I would never win in a million years. Over this winter break, I was able to sit and read the 2025 Pushcart anthology, (1/2) #Pushcart #CambodianAmerican
December 29, 2024 at 2:09 PM
2024 has been a good year in terms of writing. I had two books out: a chapbook and a debut novel. I also won a Pushcart prize, which I thought I would never win in a million years. Over this winter break, I was able to sit and read the 2025 Pushcart anthology, (1/2) #Pushcart #CambodianAmerican
She is somewhere between innocence and knowledge, picking up on what kids at school say about Santa & deciding what to do with that info. She tells us: whoever says that Santa doesn’t exist are party poopers. Like previous years, she wrote her letter to Santa. #ChristmasEve
December 24, 2024 at 7:56 PM
She is somewhere between innocence and knowledge, picking up on what kids at school say about Santa & deciding what to do with that info. She tells us: whoever says that Santa doesn’t exist are party poopers. Like previous years, she wrote her letter to Santa. #ChristmasEve
I wrote Koan Khmer because I wanted the young generations of Khmer Americans to imagine what their elders went through to build homes in the United States, instilling in them a deep sense of gratitude for their elders & pride in our people and culture. #KhmerAmericans
www.amazon.com/Koan-Khmer-N...
www.amazon.com/Koan-Khmer-N...
December 16, 2024 at 3:34 PM
I wrote Koan Khmer because I wanted the young generations of Khmer Americans to imagine what their elders went through to build homes in the United States, instilling in them a deep sense of gratitude for their elders & pride in our people and culture. #KhmerAmericans
www.amazon.com/Koan-Khmer-N...
www.amazon.com/Koan-Khmer-N...
I have done a lot of readings since the publication of Koan Khmer in August but I was so nervous about this one. My aunts, cousins, and their kids were in the audience. And the community showed up too. (1/2)
December 8, 2024 at 2:38 PM
I have done a lot of readings since the publication of Koan Khmer in August but I was so nervous about this one. My aunts, cousins, and their kids were in the audience. And the community showed up too. (1/2)