A fiery Christmas

A fiery Christmas

By May Kwek

It’s been quite a Christmas

In our expensive Orchard road

Things have been catching fire

It’s a wonder business has not slowed

First it was the Christmas tree

Just sitting by the side of the road

Then in a flash of flame

Its ornaments it did unload

Then it was the décor

Hanging on a street light

First it shone with electric brilliance

And then with crimson light

Third was a poor restaurant

That was somehow set ablaze

Now how did that happen?

The sprinkler I can’t praise

And now do I hear a fourth?

Hidden in a carpark, a flaming pile of rubbish

Perhaps with the wall,

They couldn’t it distinguish

Oh please no more!

This is turning into a bad comedy

Once, twice, I forgive you

But four is insanity

They must have struck everywhere in Orchard road

These mysterious ‘arsonists’

Having hit sky and ground

What else could they have missed?

Ah I see it now

I will shop elsewhere instead

Because the only place not yet aflame

Is I fear, my head!

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek

A Christmas Hope

A Christmas Hope

By May Kwek 

Christmas time this year

Comes at the tail of a rather sad year

Many terrible things have happened

And too many of us have lost those we held dear

We have seen bloodshed and violence

Caused by acts of cowardice

We have felt the earth shake

And rocks crumble and break

Waters swelled, the air turned poison

Yet despite all, to carols we still listen

In one more leap of faith

Come this time we still celebrate

Yes we still celebrate

To honour those who could not

Celebrate to show triumph

That hope we’ve still got

For the hope that Christmas brings

Came two thousand years ago

And against such miraculous hope

Modern horrors have no hold

So we will light our streets

And we will deck our halls

We will come in spite of fear

When the church bell calls

And come Christmas Day

Despite the horrors that have come to past

We will grow that hope’s eternal flame

Against which fear’s darkness cannot last

In memory to all who have left us, and a blessed Christmas to those who remain

Immanuel, God is with us

Copyright © 2015 by May Kwek