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Sunday, August 17, 2014

Mistaken identity

Mistaken identity

By May Kwek

Today I went to the botanic gardens
And there were a lot of things to see
Flower, ducks, pond skaters
And butterflies flying free

Exploring I ended up
In some place fairly new
Walked around, took pictures
Of things I never even knew

Then a bunch of foreigners said out loud
From behind a wall of plants
“Look! A bunch of caterpillars!”
Now that’s a sight I want

As soon as they left
I hurried over to see
Looked and then departed
Even more hastily

For instead of caterpillars
Lounging and munching around
I saw too many centipedes
Crawling on the ground

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek

What to write?

What to write?

By May Kwek

Some take a long time to write a poem
They antagonise over it day and night
Strangely not for me
I write fast under the moonlight

In fifteen minutes or less
A poem I produce
It looks like the others I have here
An easy skill to use

For to me poems are no art
No celestial melody
But a simple skill
I use for you and for me

A skill needs to be honed
As a knife needs to be sharpened
So to write more and practise
Should be my clear mission

But poems need topics
And often I have none
So alas tell me
What is to be done?

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek

Hot hot hot days

Hot hot hot days

By May Kwek

The days are so hot now
The skies blaze with light
Blinding, dazzling
Brighter than a sea of sunlight

The air hangs like a heavy curtain
It is so still
Stifling, choking
A tree would wilt

The very atmosphere glows
Like an golden mist
Oh how it makes us long
For the rain’s sweet kiss!

What am I doing out?
The birds are wiser than me
Look! I see some sparrows
Wisely hiding in the shadow of a tree

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek

NTU’s Teas

This was written in early June. I was rather late in putting it up.

NTU’s Teas

By May Kwek

About a week ago
I was invited to NTU
No, actually, the Mandarin Orchard hotel
“Specially invited are you”

So said the invitation
And being curious I went
I came back sore and tired
But the hours I will not repent

The bus ride there was long
The timing was all wrong
But I made it just in time
And what did I find?

A huge ballroom
With silly speakers
A personalised place card
For each of the sitters

I took my place
At the front of the room
Just left of the stage
There was plenty of room

We had a professor at my table
And so did the rest
Some had alumni
Wonder which was the best?

Questions were tabled
And each one answered
The professor was real friendly
I stayed while it lasted

But it was rather strange to find
On my way back home
That I had my tea in a hotel
And my friend in the lecture room 

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek

The Forbidden Hill

The Forbidden Hill

May Kwek

A long time ago
In a land right on my back door
There was a hill
Forbidden to all

It was the home
To Kings and to Queens
Where the whole island
And the bay could be seen

There was palace there
So very long ago
It is gone now
From mind and memory too

I wonder what happened there
What stories took place
Who grew up there?
And were they in the King’s grace?

Why was it abandoned?
What crisis took place?
What would cause the royal house
To fall into disgrace?

The hill is no longer forbidden
Now it is open to all
Yet when I visit
I still see royalty’s fall

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek

Dinner at Rendezvous

Dinner at Rendezvous

May Kwek

It has been a long time
Since we have been here
In fact the last time
Was longer than my years

Its location was charming
By the Singapore river
And food was not too bad
Compared to my expectations much better

 However the method of ordering
Was frankly inefficient
Though I suppose it may work in some ways
Speed can’t be their mission

The cuisine is distinctly local
With curry and spice
And gravy and chili
Which is supposed to be nice

Chicken cooked
In many different ways
And many dishes
Whose names I can’t say

Here I must profess my ignorance
In my dealings with food
But I know that if I can eat it
Usually, it is good!

Copyright © 2014 by May Kwek