Emelihter Kihleng

Who is Emelihter Kihleng?

Emelihter Kihleng is a Micronesian 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 Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 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. Sāmoan 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". Sāmoan writer Sia Figiel described her poetry as "disturbing and haunting, illuminating and tender", "woven from the violent threads of postcolonialism, laced with patches of Island humour", "a powerful addition to Pacific Literature". American poet Mark Nowak also praised her work.