August 09, 2006
remembered perfection
an almost studied apathy
we confront and speak
of what’s important?
prices and prizes
merits and only sometimes,
meanings
three hundred and sixty degrees
of greenery; pieces of
sky bordering the river
grey coats flecked with our
polychromatic expressions
six hundred million dollars on
durians by the bay
men at coffeeshops talking about
mundane, glorious
army days
women complaining –
men always talking about
army days
bound by need of security
our decision to love
to work for our destiny
roar the Kallang Roar
a better history
something ours
A/N: happy birthday Singapore! written for the Unabashedly Singapore poetry competition (which I submitted this poem late for), I thought it was appropriate to publish it on this blog for Singapore's 41st birthday. all our idiosyncrasies, all of what is unique to us, cannot be fully encompassed but every National Day reminds me of these. we may be so-called a young nation, a fledgling nation - some say we are still searching for our national identity but I say we have found it; it is in each of us, whether we recognise it or not. so here is to our speech of 'lahs' and 'lors', our passion for food, shopping, discounts and queues, and everything else that makes us Singaporean.
an almost studied apathy
we confront and speak
of what’s important?
prices and prizes
merits and only sometimes,
meanings
three hundred and sixty degrees
of greenery; pieces of
sky bordering the river
grey coats flecked with our
polychromatic expressions
six hundred million dollars on
durians by the bay
men at coffeeshops talking about
mundane, glorious
army days
women complaining –
men always talking about
army days
bound by need of security
our decision to love
to work for our destiny
roar the Kallang Roar
a better history
something ours
A/N: happy birthday Singapore! written for the Unabashedly Singapore poetry competition (which I submitted this poem late for), I thought it was appropriate to publish it on this blog for Singapore's 41st birthday. all our idiosyncrasies, all of what is unique to us, cannot be fully encompassed but every National Day reminds me of these. we may be so-called a young nation, a fledgling nation - some say we are still searching for our national identity but I say we have found it; it is in each of us, whether we recognise it or not. so here is to our speech of 'lahs' and 'lors', our passion for food, shopping, discounts and queues, and everything else that makes us Singaporean.