"FOUR WALLS" - growing old with Singapore's first HDB satellite town

These four walls
have seen me grow
from toddler to adult.
This concrete cubicle
with others identical
give shelter
to family
upon family
stacked up
in matrices
ten by ten
a hundred of them
side by side.

Twenty years
have left marks
that coats of paint
could never hide.
Yet life writes on
the same old
down to earth script
on yellowed paper
as we shuttle daily
in and out
our little homes
acting out
our little lives
like bees
in concrete hives.

So interwoven
yet independent
our lives unfold
our little stories
get retold
from door to door
laughter bounces
from pillar to pillar
anger echoes
from floor to floor
and sorrow seeps
through hollow walls
as children grow
and parents
become old.

0388

"RIVER" - oblivious as it swept through a sleepy city down under

The river plodded along with me
like a condescending old queen
I threw at her mental stones
hating her so calm and serene

Something screamed in me
and struggled to be free
that wild conflict that cried
searched and clawed inside

The river swept on unperturbed
ignored my mad disquiet
flowed on by me undisturbed
and mocked my mental riot

0984

"IF WALLS COULD TALK" - a belated wish to have loved someone more

If walls could talk
would they tell of years
of loneliness unrelieved
but by the sounds of children
who visit now and then
and as they grow into adulthood
strayed far from the home
of one who truly loved them

Would these walls speak
of the struggles of one
who survived on today's bread
and lived on tomorrow's hopes
of a better world than this

Would they know her dreams
her lonely frustrations
untold aspirations
never shared
with those whom she loved

Would these walls recall
the sadness that weighed
upon her weak shoulders
while waiting for
people she loved
people who never came

If walls could talk
would they tell of the shame
of these heartless souls
who sent her away

1183

"LONELY PEOPLE" - step out of your shell (you'll regret it less)

Lonely people like looking
out from windows to see
others bustling by
to stare at their world
from inside
too scared
to share it
outside

0983

"SKINNY OLD MAN" - the foolish observations of the very young

Skinny old man curling round the bus-stop seat
basking in the sun
his green cotton tee shirt and long khaki shorts
that soiled crumpled look
thumbing its nose at fashion

Paddling off on his bare feet
thin legs lifting awkwardly with each uneven step
his bald head tilting
glancing with childlike interest all around him
a fascinating world

He wasn't old after all
seemed so at first sight
He's young though
and younger inside

983

"WHITE FLOWERS" - soothed by an encounter with nature

White flowers crystallised on green
branches gracefully arched over
that wallowing sorry drain near
a rubbish heap that weaves
stale despondency into the air
Round the corner the construction site
in mindless arrogance puffs out smoke
and dust that choke the air
But somehow your sweet frangrance
hovers in mid air like a spell
so one who ventures near enough
may sense above the smoke and stench
the soothing perfume of your scent
gentle persuasion
amidst wilful destruction

0382