Fear

The feeling deep inside the heart,
Like a fist crushing and squeezing,
The feeling that I’ll break apart,
It’s the fear that keeps me crying.

The fear of what the future holds,
The fear of loved ones young and old,
The fear of having lost a friend,
The list goes on like there’s no end.

There’s one thing that’s on my mind,
That keeps me awake on lonely nights,
It’s that one-day I’ll break in two,
From all the worrying and fearing I do.

Fear, I smell it,
Fear, I taste it,
Fear, I hate it,
Fear, I fear it.

Rachel Linn Braberry
3 Justice

The Window of Sorrow

Peeping out the window,
This little one will see,
The sky is overcast,
It will rain soon,
It Seems.

Out of the window,
She sees everyone in her life,
Living her,
All are walking away,
Away from her.

Why is she seeing this?
Why was it that today,
The sky is thus overcast,
Thus dark and gloomy,
Like a rainy November’s day.

The final straw came,
When the one she loved so
Came to the very window too,
To bid her goodbye.
Adieu Adieu.

That was when the rain,
The cold, cruel, rain,
The rain stinging,
Like salt water,
Came pouring down on the window

Then all to her was a blur,
Colors, textures,
A never ending swirl,
Of sorrow of what was left,
Of her soon to end world.

Melissa Tan
4G

Sweet Sixteen

Sweet sixteen!
Invitations i extend to all!
X-rated, it's childishness, i know. Adults.
Time, Your highness, facilitate me to teleport
Even if they bore their eyes
Even if i'm charged for defiance to a life time of backstabbing, namecallings, bootlickers
Never must you, kids, throw your years away.

On a cushion chair, invented with the newest technolgy, i sat.
Rumbles of a thunder i heard.

The phone rings
Hear the buzzing, clicking, rustling hear the silent struggles
I shake awake and stare
Reality winning the race.
Guess teenage really can't win it.
Thirty! i slapped myself.
Like wildfire, i bid out another invitation
You are sincerely apologized by my runaway adolescence.
I beg for your forgiveness.

Elizabeth Tan
4E

How To Disappear Completely

You can run away,
you can hide in the forest,
but you'll still be found.

You can stick a knife in your heart,
you can dive down a 13th storey building,
but your body will still be around.

You can wear an invisible cloak,
you can cast invisibility spells on yourself,
but I will still feel your presence.

So what's the best way to disappear completely?
"I'm not here, this isn't happening."

Loo Hui Ping
4E

The Painful Truth

In this world full of lies,
An innocent heart can’t get you by.

You think someone is doing you good
But truth be told he’s a backstabbing crook.

It's dog-eat-dog in this known land.
The only way out is the Son of Man.

Robyn Wong
4H

SINGAPORE

Singapore,
An Island in the sun.
Where people work hard
To have some fun

We have shopping districts full of sales,
Which are always crowded with shoppers without fail.
Tourists come for the unique retail,
It's a great deal, no one will bail.

Sentosa is a little Island resort,
With activities and restaurants of all sort.
There is a Musical Fountain and a Merlion,
Which is better to see at night in my opinion.

It sounds much sweeter,
If you are on tour.
But as I am not a foreigner,
Everything turns into a bore faster.

There is nothing
I have not done here,
And nothing
I have not seen here.

And it's also depressing
That everyone is stressing,
With homework and housework,
With studies and no parties.

Loraine Thomasz
3Justice

Monument of Spirit

Group work based on Naema Disparue: Whereabouts Unknown (A Sense of Belonging)

I wake up each morning
the same thing happens
Each and everyday.
It is recurring, just like a nightmare.
It is becoming a normal routine.

I see the kids
Fully aware of the ongoings.
My smile's a facade
A mask for all to see.

I walk around
And entered the shop
Of the one who died for me.
Though his breath is gone
His sole* lives on
It is open for all to see.

He'd live on in the hearts of those who fight
A proud monument for those who died
A simple yet complex thing to explain
His death was common, though not of shame.

I'll give up all in the fight
To rid us of this tormenting sight.
The kids, I know, can be left behind.
For now it is time to say goodbye.

3 Grace
Samantha Sng, Nicolette
Sheryl, Edna, I-Mai and Lilian

sole: the man who died was a shoemaker

Whereabouts Unknown

Inspired by Naeme Disparue: Whereabouts Unknown (A Sense of Belonging)

The darkness of the room
With heavy heart.
We listen to the incessant gun shots.
The children are crying,
Cold and shivering.
Outside our small window, I see
a dying man in the street
moan in pain.
His eyes scream for help.
But the merciless soldiers walk on by.
Chaos that surrounds us
seem like it will never fade.

This is my life.
Oh Lord, why?
I see my loved ones suffer.
My heart scatters,
Like broken glass.

Sec 3 Justice
Lynn Chng, Caroline,
Gwendoline, Agnes,
Michelle and Jolene.

Stage

Especially for my dramatic girls

Thespians of the stage,
Teenage Bards,
Your eyes flicker with delight
At lines learnt and delivered just as
You rehearsed.
At rebuttals furnished without
Hesitation.
At embraces received without
Flinching.

The narrowing of your eyes
As you express the hate of revenge.
The glint in your eyes as the thrill
Of the nerves runs through your body
On opening night.
Emotions developed within
Become emotions without.

You morphed into
Young girl of thirteen,
On the brink of discovery.

You unfurled into
Rebel relishing her first kiss
On the brink of womanhood.

You transposed into
Slave of the body
On the brink of desperation.

You transformed into
Keeper of the sisters
On the brink of living.

You evolved into
Guardian of Life's wisdom
With no ounce of regret.

And as the spot is turned on centre stage,
You step out,
Just as you had imagined.
Just as you had dreamed,
Onto your mind’s stage.

Mrs Debra Tan

Play

Eyes meeting.
First contact made.
Second and third soon followed,
And led to the permanent bed.

What starts well, always ends well.
The fools always say.
Obviously they never saw,
What happened that May.

Final act: [show pain, bitterness, hurt]
[shout and accuse and recriminate: be curt]
Let them all come,
There’s no need to be calm.

It’s good to let it out.
The counselors say.
See, they never expected
It would happen that way.

He pulls a gun.
And so shooting his wife,
He’s freed from his promise
to love, honour and obey.

What he did next,
Bears no comprehension.
For he shot his little girl,
Then went for his own head.

It’s such a loss.
Everyone said.
Who knew it would end
Before all their debts were paid.

These people they helped
The situation progress along.
A little word here , a little more there.
No guilt they felt at stripping them bare.

What a sordid crime.
Perhaps it’ll get in the news
The one where the poor girl’s life was taken
Before her time.

Priscilla Su
4E

Pass Me The Love, Please

Her mouth distorted as the sounds of
hurt hurled out. Shivers of despair
and anguish slither down her thin frame.
She yelped with 8-year-old frustrations,
barking out tears of pain.

A note is what she gets each day:
Breakfast in the fridge, Lunch and
Dinner money in top drawer. A picture
is all she has of the parents
whom she never saw.

The clouds were dark, raining black.
She waited, for the excitement of getting an
A when it’s usually D. She waited,
jumped at every honk of cars. She saw kids
running wet to the cars, saw parents with umbrellas
for their children, she sighed, yet
waited. Until when the glows of the night
candles started to melt, she stepped out,
tears mingled with downpour, her A-paper fluttered aimlessly
down a flooded drain.

She clambered into bed, sludge-drenched
snickers thrown careless on the floor. A loud
streak sounded in the sky. She hugged her
moss-filled teddy, using her own voice
to defeat the thundering.

There she is again, staring at the sky, eyes tear –stricken.
With two knees and the clasping of hands, she prayed:
Dear Father Our Lord in Heaven,
Please bless Mommy and Daddy with more love.
Amen.

Linda Ye
4E

The Great Singapore Sale

The Great Singapore Sale is here!
Everything thirty to eighty percent off!
Whoa! Look at all the glamour in the
shops, shelves stocked high and mighty with
everything from lipsticks to baby needs!

Look at the crowd! Started half a day
before shops opened, Look at their
enthusiasm and manners! Queuing up orderly
and quietly with smiles on their faces.

The gates were lifted, the enthusiasm turned to
lust. Their eyes glowed with the array of
goods, their mouths dropped open
with greed written on their lips.

Without any warning, they charged in like bulls.
Manners forgotten, smiles forsaken.
Arms and legs frailed as they squeezed
through the tiny opening, Shouts
of displeasure rang through the crowd,
mixed with the wail of newborns, the
high-pitched squeaks of women. Men grunted
as they shoved each other in their rush to get
toothpaste. Clothes strewn all over,
advertisements stampeded, torn and wasted.

After rush hour, things settled down. Crowds
started to cease, the air grew quieter. A
quivering old man made his way over, his hands
quaked as he picked up the discarded on the floor.
He gasped for air as he lifted the mop to clean the
milk, spit and footprints. Spying a piece of
biscuit on the floor, he carefully limped over and
with strain, stuffed his dinner into his overalls.

Linda Ye
4E

Blank

You read the newspapers
And came across
Homicides, headlines
Innocent bystanders
Caught in the crossfire
You’d wish you didn’t get involved.

I didn’t get your name, little girl.
That’s what the police said,
Then you ran back to your safe side;
Going home.

Jayda Ow
4H

The Same Old Lies Again

“My dog ate up my homework”
“I did not see the stain”
“My sister tore the curtain”
The same old lies again.

“I finished all my veggies”
“The bus was late again”
“I did not copy her answers”
The same old lies again.

“I had already taken my medicine”
“I was caught up in the rain”
“I did not break the vase”
The same old lies again.

Everyone uses the same excuse
Again and again
Then why do we still bother to use
The same old lies again?

Wong Jiayen
4G

The Funeral

His body laid peacefully in that box,
As a minute of silence was observed.
His grand-daughter who gave him her last words,
Brought tears to many who heard.

The armed force saluted with respect
To say their last goodbyes,
As the coffin was carried past his wife
Who sat there, tears in her eyes.

The nation watched on with great respect
To a leader of great devotion.
Some cried, some speechless, some whispered a little prayer
For the People’s President.

Wong Jiayen
4G

Little Red Splotch on the Big World Map

A little red splotch on the big world map.
Incidental?
On the contrary.

Four brothers stepped on shore.
Realized there was work to be done.
So toil they did under the merciless sun
The heat of war, of communism,
beating down on their backs.
Through hardship and pain their struggled and strived,
united as one. And out of their foreheads
trickled drops of blood. Four drops of blood, merged
into one. One jewel. The Jewel of Life.

I once was on an aeroplane, with
different people of different lands.
One destination: Singapore.
And as the island comes to view,
murmurs of the nations are heard.
What happened to the stars in the night sky?
Where’s the scenery, so pleasing to one’s eye?
And this island! So tiny! So small!
I sighed and frowned, didn’t they know?
The stars are the nation’s people,
The scenery? Courtesy and racial harmony.
And yes, our island is small.
Small but strong, like an army of ants.
And as the plane touches down, my
heart soars high, with pride, with love.
For the little red splotch on the big world map.

Sarah Wong
4E

Heat

Bloated bellied babes.
Eyes huge and shockingly white
against the thin gaunt face.
Blackened by the
merciless sun.

Mothers, little bigger than their eldest,
thin after childbirth,
cast off modesty,
throw aside pride.
Sacrificing all they have,
for hopes of a future for their blood.

It is an endless and vicious cycle,
one that holds them captive.
Never enough food and water.
Waking every morning
to the same sun,
to the same heat.

Priscilla Su
4E

Untitled

Did you really realize,
that what you do today
affects your tomorrow?

Could you possibly comprehend,
that a consequence
backs every action,
every decision?

I never thought about it.
Certainly not before deciding to be cool,
to breathe that poisonous breath,
or when I beheld that little terror tablet.

I am still young,
on the road to Six Feet Under.
Dragging a casket of regrets and lost dreams.
with no room for hope.

Priscilla Su
4E

They Disappear

One by one they disappear
Her heart begins to shrink,
a piercing pain flows through her blood as her body weakens and
nothing is there to strengthen it.

She takes a shower and tries to wash the nothingness away.
The water flows through her hair and down her face.
She shuts her eyes and tries to disappear.
Just like the rest of them.

She’s under a waterfall. It’s beautiful.
She has never seen anything so wondrous.
Perhaps this is where the rest have disappeared to.
She smiles,
A smile so foreign.
Perhaps, she’ll see them again here.

Suddenly, all is gone.
The water stops flowing.
She shuts her eyes so tight they begin to tear
Perhaps, if she shut her eyes tight enough the dream wouldn’t disappear.
Not this time. Not again.

But she knows it’s a dream.
Reluctantly, her eyelids release.
She looks up and sees a shower head.
It points at her hand and laughs at her.
Her hand shut off the water.
She made it disappear.
She made them all disappear. It was her.
The shower laughs harder.
Fury takes it down and hits it hard against the wall. It breaks to pieces.
Just like her heart.

She falls to her knees and cries. But no one can be her refuge.
She made them disappear.

Robyn Wong
4H

Goodbye

From the moment you left
I bid you goodbye.
From the moment you said ‘I’m sorry’
A chapter closed.

With tears in your eyes; a smile across your face
You bid me goodbye.
One foot in the grave
You slowly drifted.

Now standing by your lifeless body,
I bid you goodbye.
Knowing I’ll never forget you
Never letting go.

With tears in my heart,
I heard your wordless goodbye.

Grace Wong
4 J

Thirst

Unaccepted pair
Shamed, ridiculed at.
Society’s reject
But that didn’t matter.
Love did.

There they lay
World of their own
Rough thumb on smooth cheek,
A sensual caress.
Fingers ran in hair,
Soothing.

Lips brushed lips
So softly.
Passion ignited.
They kissed
Entwined as one.
And love let loose

Society’s reject
But that didn’t matter.
Or did it?

Hee Biling Dawn
3 Grace

It’s time

Her radar of hate flickered through me,
Burning brutally,
I feel ensnared.

Alas, she acclaimed,
She can get rid of me,
I know she will never miss me.

Why me,
Of all the children?
I surmised.

Was it because of my looks?
Was it because father paid more attention to me?
Or was it because she never loved me?

Stand straight up!
she barked mercilessly,
As though I was a convict in captive.

As the hot, burning boiling water
Trickled down my skin,
I told myself, I will never let her win.

I have to store for time,
To live,
Just to live.

I strained to look at the time,
Just then, the door swung open.
I knew I won this stupid game.

She turned away to smile at him, welcoming him home.
It is time,
I took the boiling kettle and thrust it towards her head.

Edwina Goh
4H

Seeking

Seeking out the light from here,
to touch, to feel, to see
the warmth that
buries beneath the coldness
of this void.

I skip across this path alone,
I scream, I laugh, I sing
to drown out
that unendless ring of silence
within me.

I yearn for things unknown,
for stars, for skies, for love
while wandering these
windy streets that leads
and brings to nothing.

I pluck these daisy petals,
for you, for me, for we.
But you lie unknown in
the stars, the skies, I cry
when the tortured silence
consumes me.

Natasha Lim
4G

Waltzing Flower

I always see her by the lake,
Plucking petals off flowers, dancing
In the midst of butterflies, under the
Rays of golden sunshine that
Shoots stars off her copper hair.

Stepping over the sharp stones that
Drew the blood from her bare feet.
But pretty smiles were still painted over
The unseen wounds, to ease the pain, to hide
The emptiness on her face.
Pretty smiles were deceiving but I ponder,
What does lie beneath those hollow eyes?

As I passed the lake next day, there was
No sign of my waltzing flower. But then
At the far end of the lake, there she was
A vision of pink silk, sorrow etched on
Her beautiful features.

On her side, a man.

A man who took her heart, tearing
And breaking it apart. Her chastity removed,
her virginity taken by the lust of his loins. I
stood there forlorn, lost, confused. As I
watched my waltzing flower walked away,
in the embrace of his lust.

Natasha Lim
4 Grace

Homebound--Singapore

I sat on a plane
Alone, waiting
Looking out…

Sudden tears glazed over my eyes
And the run-way blurred and cleared
-before me was scenery of home

Greenery surrounded me
Tall buildings against the blue sky
I found myself staring at
My worn-out HDB flats—home

A scent drifted
Hmm..Laksa my favourite
Hearing something, I found myself
Grinning—my friend’s chatterings
My eyes, full, leaked a tear
My senses cleared
It was as if all lights suddenly turned on
All mysteries suddenly answered
Like a bolt of lightning
It hit me

I can’t go…
I am home, home where
My friends, my favourites,
My roots are…

I cannot leave for another country
For this is where I belong
My home, Singapore.

I left the plane that very moment and headed home…

Tan Rou Bing
4G

A Thousand and One

Everytime I go a visiting
To Grandma’s house,
Grams would say,
“Come sit and I’ll tell you a story…

A long time ago, when days were hard and dark.
When I was still a little child,
There were those high and mighty British
Who like to order us around
Then bombs rained down
And the Japanese came.
Much worse they were and they hated Chinese,
And killed my papa before my very eyes.
Life was tough and we starved
And hid away cos’ my mama would say
If those Japanese catch sight of us, they will steal us away.
I grew up quick and married your Gramps.
The British returned promising a sweet future
But some were happy, some were not.
Soon cries of independence were heard aboard
And with much riots and strikes, somehow
We joined with Malaysia.
Life was happy and I had your Mum
But soon more riots happened
Soon, Within two years, we separated.
I watched the little black box and saw Lee Kuan Yew in anguish.
Then as if the sun had rose, buildings started growing.
With peace coming back, everything is so expensive…
So, now dear, do you know just how lucky you are?”

And I will answer with a smile
“Yes Grams I know”
Even though I heard the story a thousand and one.

Tan Rou Bing
4G

Every Rose Has Its Thorn

Hamlet had Ophelia and Juliet, her Romeo,
But all I have now are tears of mournful sorrow,
No more of my late night company, it’s lost, forgotten and forlorn,
For which my heart you know you have brutally torn.

So do not say you’ll love me forever, or till death do us part,
For who knows when the day is over, it could well be you who would break my heart.
But too late, its over, time waits for no man,
Your courage has fallen for it shall not stand.

Roses that bloom in spring,
So gently and soft they smile,
Yet behind all that beauty
Lies pain u bear for a little while.

Like the many others, you wish to try,
Pick up the beauty that lies beneath the sky,
Prick yourself not, you have faithfully sworn,
But too late it’s over,
Every rose has its thorn

Sarah Lim
4 Justice

Friendship

Friendship is like the breeze,
You can't hold it,
Smell it,Taste it,
Or know when it's coming,
But you can always feel it,
And you'll always know it's there,
It may come and then go,
But you can know it'll always be back.

Jolene Wong
3J

Concealed confessions

I see you walking to school,
I see you fighting around.
I see you smiling at me,
Yet I don’t dare make a sound.

I see you eating your food,
I see you combing your hair.
I want you so much to hold me,
So much that I despair.

I wish I had courage,
I wish I had no fear,
Concealed confessions that I hold,
To you they seem so near.

I see you alone at the prom
I decide to take this chance
Hoping you would look at me,
Hoping you would give me a second glance.

My heart is pumping, Ever beating so fast,
I walk to your table and ask in front of your class.
“A dance with me, my kind sir, would you please oblige?”
“Of course my darling I would, for I’ve never taken you off my sight”.

Sarah Lim
4 justice

Dear Mummy

I think I hear some noise mummy,
I can’t wait to hold your hand,
I want to kiss you mummy,
Why don’t you understand?

I want to go shopping with you mummy,
I want to buy you a dress,
I want you to see me study mummy,
Right behind my desk.

Why are there doctors mummy?
They’re trying to take me out.
Tell them that you love me mummy!
Tell them what I’m all about!

Please make them stop mummy,
It’s hurting me real bad,
You told me that you love me mummy,
Why are you taking your words back?

I’m dying mummy,
I don’t even know where I belong,
I’m really sorry mummy,
I know I must have done something wrong.

My time is up mummy,
The doctors have pulled out my heart,
Dear mummy you’re forgiven,
I’ve loved you from the start.

Sarah Lim
4 Justice

Results

The noise in the class was silent off,
when the teacher came in.
She held a stack of papers in her hands.
All the students knew what it was, without asking.
The students knew that their nightmare will soon begin.
The images of their parents flashed through their mind.
Sudents' names were being called out.
Their feet were as if they were glued to the ground.
Different kinds of expressions formed on their faces.
Some students were exhilarated,
some were finding answers to their parents.
The last bell of the day rang
and this was what the giving back of results was all about.

Kuik Shi Hui Angelia
3 Justice

Beautiful Death

It eats at me
Like a maggot infested corpse.
It feeds off my fears
Which flow like an endless stream or terror.

The more I struggle
The more its pleasure.
It savours my panic, desperation,
Will to live.
Its sadistic nature
Grins at the suffering and agony.

It clings to me,
Sucking me dry
With its teeth sharp
Like daggers.
It pierces, mercilessly
Over and over and over
Never sparing me a moment
To breathe or gasp for air
Or a moment to escape
In the split second
He inhales.

It toys me like a cat
To a mouse.
Beating me back and forth
Just to watch me scamper and scurry for shelter.
Its teeth, like cat’s claws
Pulling and tugging me
Playfully.
Playfully deadly.

The sheet must only be laid after death,
Yet,
It is what kills me.

Silk.
So pure and beautiful
Its divinity takes my breath away
Till I breathe no more.



I lay in my silk casket,
Which like a glass coffin, hides
Its truth within delicate fragileness.

A web entwines my life
Down to its last strings.
The poison that runs through my blood
Feels like a drug drowning sound,
Sight, senses
Till nothing remains but my cold, stiff,
Motionless body.

And all they do is watch.

Their disgusting degenerate looks of
Interest and awe of how
we play God and take life so simply.
Their sick minds of morbidness.
Ha! And they call me the freak.

But I suppose, yes.
Those superior with the gift
Of talons, speed, or sanctuary
Of their size,
Have all the reason to hunt me,
And things of my nature.
And who is to deny instinct?
No one, or rather, no thing.

This time, it’s just my luck
To be the fly.

Carla Dunareanu
4J

A Wanna-be

I was born into this world
into a world of fantasies
I thought to myself
Where I wanna-be

I grew up eventually
I faced reality
I thought to myself
Where could I ever be

Confusions and storms
Torturing my soul
The world of fantasies
soon became empty

The cruel society
The vanishing smiles
But deep in my heart I know
This is where I'll always be

Lim Ai Qi
4 Justice

All is Changed, All is Gone

The fishing boat
The roadside stall
All is changed, all is gone

The children playin'
While the adults braggin'
All is changed, all is gone

The old-fashioned barber
Where they helped dig your ears
All is changed, all is gone

All is changed
all is gone
All exchanged
for a better Singapore

Lim Ai Qi
4 Justice

No Time

No time to chat,
No time to talk,
No time to play around!
Yet,they say there's twenty four hours
Till day awakes..Is it true?
my self con asks..
It really makes me wonder..
there's No time to dance

No time to read..
time just seems to fly within me..
is it life or is it just SINGAPORE!!
this question always will burn in me..
finding the answer,
shall be far from now..
But if i ever do,
i will then be able to shower my burning self with the water of TRUTH and stress-FREE life!

Mahal
3J

If

If I woke up one day
And you weren’t here,
Would I cry to mourn your loss
Or regret not spending time with you?

If I woke up one day
And friends were gone,
Would I miss them
Or regret the unsettled mishaps?

If I woke up one day
And found myself alone,
Would I feel that I’ve survived
Or suffer for being an introvert?

If I woke up one day
And realised it was my last,
Would I tell everyone I love them
Or be apologizing and begging for forgiveness?

If I never woke at all
‘cause I died in my sleep,
Would I be missed by anyone
Or simply forgotten by all?

Rene Ashlie De Payva
4J

The Devil in Disguise

You pretended to be my friend
And acted like you understand.
You won my trust and affection
Maybe I just wanted a lil attention.

You used me to get what you wanted
Now, by your face I am haunted.
I fell for your deceiving lies
And left in my head are pathetic cries.

You promised you’ll help me through
But to your promise, you didn’t stay true
And when you got what you wanted,
All you did was leave me stranded.

I struggled through the toughest time,
When all I ever wanted was to shine.
You stripped me bare of my confidence
All I want now is someone’s presence.

I’m a lonely, stranded little girl.
I walk alone in this big world.
I am haunted by my past
Yet, I’m moving on to the future fast.

Life’s a burden because of you
And yes, you’ve got the best of me too.
However, I’ll get the last laugh
When I move on to my future path.

As for you, my dear, sweet friend,
This is where I drop your hand.
You used to be an angel in my eyes
But you’re just a devil in disguise.

Rene Ashlie De Payva
4J

Discarded Muah Chee: A Begger's Tale

Lighting my half-over cigarette,
I stare at the stars in the sky
Illuminating Marina Promenade.
I swat away a bothersome fly
From my dinner: discarded muah chee.

I owned a penthouse, and a top job once.
That was long ago. Like I said, once,
I had a wife I loved dearly.
She left me for another. He had more money.
We had no children.
We were, yes, the typical career-crazy Singaporeans

Now I smoke my cheap and last cigarette.
And I think, lying here on my cardboard bed,
How the stars in the sky can so illuminate the promenade.
I swat away again, the same irritating fly
From my dinner of discarded muah chee.

Sheefatunnessa Rabiah
4 Justice

You are my Friend

Standing by,
All the way.
I'm here to help you through your day.

Holding you up,
When you're weak,
Helping you find what it is you need.

Catching your tears,
When you cry.
Pulling you through when the tide is high.

Just being there,
Through thick and thin,
All I just want to say is that, you are my friend.

Phyllis Lee
3 J

Quiet Night

As he walk along the empty street
the cries of bats and cats filled the air,
slient wind caressed his face,
he drags his one-ton foot,
no idea where it'll lead him to,
he stopped.
For his foot could no longer carry him.

Desperation was all he felt,
to get out of this lonely road
was gold to him,
but all he held was a penny in his hand,
no passer-bys, no taxis.
Boy, is he going to stay there all night?

He prayed upon the starry sky,
to the Lord above, almighty father.
"Send me your holy spirit, for i know
as your child you're here by my side."

Alast, God responded to his prayer,
sent down a miracle on him.
A car drove by and stopped at him,
"Sir, would you llike a trip out?"
His eyes sparkled like the stars above.
"Oh yes, of course! those words I prayed to hear."

He stepped into the car,
looked back and said
" Thank God, I am out here."

Adora Yeo
4 Integrity

Bloody Road

They marched along the bloody road
exhaustion and hatred filled their minds,
all they wish for is an end
to the bloodshed, they were traumatised for
boy, were they desperate to end this?

Explosions, gun shots, yells all over
filled the empty atmosphere.
Heads of the innocent roll,
Girls were the pleasure,
Boys were the fighters.
Oh would anyone above there,
hear us,
see us,
feel us,
so much of pain and sufferings
no one knows what we're really going through.

Even the devil would turn away,
from blood sheds and lives,
sins that can never cleanse to purity,
forgiveness is what we seek.
Oh lord all we yearn for is peace,
harm no more my people,
for the devil sees no more sins.

So it ended,
Families torn apart,
lives taken away,
what tragic ending for all,
peace was all we need.

Adora Yeo
4 Integrity.

Proud To Be

Raffles’ light lingers in the pathways of Clarke Quay;
Splendid foresight had he of our Lion City.

Having charted our future opposite of the Crown Colony;
Our country has now built up a very good economy.

No longer do we suffer the pains’ of our forefathers;
Who had lived their days as though badly cursed.

They’ve been through far too many gruesome nights;
Of the merciless Japanese soldiers’ ‘bites’.

Countless measures by the Government have been put in place;
For only Total Defence can prevent and save.

Though only a little red dot, already are we famously known for;
Our First-Class Airport and the Greenery, which is never a bore.

Laska, Curry Fish Head, Chicken Rice and Satay;
People all ‘round the world are more than willing to pay.

You’ll never go hungry in this food haven, especially in the food-courts of our malls;
Our range of delicacies simply delights and pleases all.

Our neighbourhoods - Sengkang, Hougang, and Yio Chu Kang;
Towering flats where residents bond as one.

I am well-fed, well-housed, safe, secure, and free;
It is no wonder that I’m proud to be Singaporean, as you can see!

Marie Anne Foo
4 Grace

That There’ll Always Be A “We”

May our friendship last forever;

I pray I’ll always be true to thee.

May we pass phases in life together;

That there’ll always be a "we".

May I never make you cry;

And to always ensure you feel my care.

May we laugh off mistakes, like the passing shower in the sky;

For dreams aren’t made of air.

May we be for each a loving smile;

Like the sweet, warm and beaming sun.

Yet when we're in hurt for awhile;

May both our suffering be but one.

May we share all our special days,

The happiness of one that makes two;

But if a time comes when we are forced separate ways,

May my love remain with you.
I truly hope to see;

That there’ll always be a "we".

Marie Anne Foo
4 Grace

Darkness

The world is gone,
I cannot see,
What lies before and after me.

I cannot run,
Nor can I hide,
From the darkness that is deep inside.

The truth is here,
And very bare,
Never have I known it had been there.

As I fall into a pit of darkness and despair,
I do not know why,
I do not care,
I feel nothing but the wind in my hair.

I can no longer stand it,
I take the final plunge,
I shed my final tear,
As I forever disappear.

Rachel Linn Braberry
3 Justice

Hungry?

Walk along the streets of Jalan Kayu,
Grab some Prata for a dollar or two.
Just plain with onions or with eggs,
A spoonful of curry would taste equally great
Couple it up with a cup of Teh Tareh,
A breakfast that that will spice up your day

Head down to Maxwell Market near Chinatown,
Get a taste of the famous Cha Kuay Teow.
The long queues though are a sore to the eye,
But we just want our chicken rice!
Otherwise hop to the Mee Pok stall
Lunch will be the same no more.

Asking what’s for dinner tonight?
I’ll treat you to some crabby delight!
Chilli or Pepper don’t bother
Cos they is gonna be a sumptuous dinner!


Just before you end this day
Just before you go to bed,
Are you craving for something light?
Let me drive you to Rochor Road
For some Tao Huay to smooth your throat.

So look at our marvelous good galore
So much to offer!
This is Singapore, our Makan Sutra!

Cheryl Wong
4 Integrity

My Fake Plastic Love

He looks like a real thing.
He tastes like a real love.
He smells like a real man.
He speaks like a real person.
He acts like a real soul.

But he feels like a real fake,
I'm just a rubber soul,
loving him,
it wears me out.
It wears me away.

Loo Hui Ping
4E

Ich Liebe Dich?

You buy the flowers
You buy the chocs
You buy material things to show that you love
But how much do you know about true love?

God loves us so much that he sent us Christ,
His only son who died to save us
Now do you think that God's tremendous love
Can be compared to chocs and roses?

Annabel Su

Ich Liebe Dich: German for "I love you"

Boat Quay

I never knew of this place before,
This place that seems to come alive after dark..
Where drinks and beers and wine would be served,
And loud laughter could be heard.
It’s always a happy place up the street,
With music playing,
People singing,
Glasses clinking.
It’s brightly lit,
With great neon board signs,
Tempting every passer-by to drop into one of the pubs,
Like a child attracted to a lollipop.

But down the street seems more serene,
With colourful lighted bump boats that glittered the river,
Like the sparkly stars in the clear night sky.
It’s tranquil,
Away from the hustle and bustle up the street.
You would now see cafes,
And the air is always salty,
Reminding you of sandy beaches.
There would be a cool evening breeze,
That caressed your face.

Now, imagine yourself there,
Stretching your tired arms and legs,
As you sit beside the river on a rattan chair,
Soaking in the ambience,
The soothing atmosphere,
Indulging in a cup of latte.
This sight,
This panorama,
Let it enthrall your senses.

Corrine Heng
4I

A Place That Love Would Prevail

Tears glistened on her rosy cheeks,
She reached out her hand,
To helplessly grasp for something that would never be there again.
Her mother passed away two days ago,
And in time to come,
She had to face,
This ugly truth that she would not grace.
She was all alone in this harsh world
With nobody to care for her,
With nobody to love her.

She stood by the grave of her beloved mother,
And in her hands help white roses.
She held them tight,
Till the thorns cut into her skin,
And blood trickled down like a little stream.
She did not care.

After what seemed to be a very long time,
She placed the blood-stained roses on the grave.
She knelt down,
Placing her cold hands onto the grass.
She sobbed so hard.
She was robbed of all the love she had,
And it seemed like the right time to redeem it back.

She reached into her pocket,
And she reached into her pocket,
And took out a vial.
She unscrewed the cap,
And downed it in a sec.

All of a sudden, her face contorted,
She clutched her stomach,
A pain that she never quite experienced before,
Seemed to consume her like fire.

After a moment she fell to the ground,
And tried her best to smile.
She knew she would be going to a place,
Where love,
She thought would be there.
To embrace her,
And to never let go.

Corrine Heng
4I

Being Unabashedly Singapore

For the rows of planted trees colouring up the city,
For the lines of lights brightening up the streets,
For the rising skyscrapers towering over the quaint shophouses along Clarke Quay,
For the gentle waves crashing over the banks of the Singapore River,
For the iconic and controversial esplanade arts centre,
For the charging bull market economy,
For the reliable and sharp government,
For the well planned all rounded educated system,
For the enthusiastic crowds in the season of Great Singapore Sale,
For the mouth-watering aroma of unique dishes specially made in Singapore,
For the acts of care and concern in the cosmopolitan-ruled HDB flats,
For the roars of support for our Team Singapore during Olympics,
For the superior quality of health care,
For the advanced mechanisms seen everywhere,
For the 100 other little things that makes up one and only Singapore.

Loo Hui Ping
4E

His Last Wrath

He shook and shivered, miraculously
Drank some coffee and put the cup down
Hard-headed and extremely unruly
As rays vanished and the day turned to dawn

He felt sedated, for now
All alone, undisturbed
Wanting to call somebody, it’s only minor
Still, to do so he was unperturbed

He laid his heavy head on the pillow
Thinking and mixing his thoughts about
The feeling in him so deeply hollow
Waited and waited till the early morn

He remembered almost everything
Relented to the idea of guilty pleasure
He kept it in him, so long and aching
He will go on to fulfill his darkest desire

He recalled again, and recaptured
The rebel in him crying out loud
The moments of agony and pure instant torture
How he was unusually second to his brother, Lloyd

Ravenous for revenge, he moved forward
And started, and stomped and started again
For his actions he reaped an amazing award
The realism of himself being put in jail

Nurul Zakiah Bte Mohamad Nor
4 J

The Back Door

When we were found out,
Out through the back door.

When we were being chased,
Out through the back door.

When frustration caught up,
Out through the back door.

We decided to go for a spin,
Out through the back door.

They sped up, We sped up,
Seeking the back door.

Bang hit into the tree,
No back door.

Melissa Tan
4G

Everyday Routines That Go Unnoticed

And she was just three when she was dumped,
And he was just two when his mother jumped,
Her daddy touched her when she was ten,
He grew up hating girls, liking men.

Just four and her mom gave her pesticide,
Just three and his dad committed suicide,
And her stepdaddy raped her thrice,
To a man, his virginity was sacrificed.

Fifth birthday and she's sick to the bone,
Her mom out clubbing, she's home all alone.
Fourth birthday and he's going to die,
His mom's in the hall, having sex with a new guy.

Now she's six, but she'll never smile.
Now he's five, but he'll never talk.
And they both rest side by side,
At the cemetery just a bus ride
away.
And I'm going to pay them a visit today

Madeline Wee
3G

The Cameo

Granny, Granny,
Where are you?
Where are the hugs,
Intended from you?

Granny, Granny,
Why are they all crying?
Why is mother,
Mourning and sighing?

Granny, Granny,
Is this not your cameo?
The one made of pearl,
Ever ashining?

Granny, Granny,
It was your favorite.
You never leave home without it,
Then why is it here?

Granny, Granny,
Why is it passed to me?
In my hand now,
It looks frail and tiny.

Granny, Granny,
The cameo belongs to you.
They must give it back,
Place it on your neck.

Granny, Granny,
You’d said before,
The only time you’ll part with it,
Was when you lay in the cold ground.

Granny, Granny,
You’d said to me.
Only then,
Would it finally belong to me.

Melissa Tan
4 Grace

LOVELY

This lovely time has gone,
It has gone far, far away.
It can never be found,
And brought back again.

I miss you, lovely Singapore
Sadly, my parents chose to migrate.
I love your cleanliness,
Your greenery,
And the lovely, peaceful and joyful time I’ve spent there.

I’m sorry,
But I wouldn’t be back.
But I would love to say these three words,
“I LOVE YOU, SINGAPORE!”

Fong Jia Min
4 Integrity

Terry

Dedicated to my dad above, Terry. I love you daddy.

This sounds like a drama serial.
I walked in
asking God to grant him will
to fight Death off
so I may never see my mummy tear.
slowly, my feet dragging…

Moments before that,
I was talking to a friend.
Saying how much I regret
for not treating him like a dad.
Then came another call,
it is from my brother.
He said
“I think you better come up now,”
“I think…he…he is leaving.”

I rushed up,
hoping that God can give me time.
There I see my mum crying,
she told me he is waiting.
So I held his hand
and called him…
‘Dad.’

I ran out of the ward,
unable to stay in there anymore.
Then the news came,
the news I never wanted to hear:
He’s gone.

Then I started to realize
my dad loved me the most.
He waited till I was there
then agreed to go.
He will always be in my heart,
oh yes, he will be.
He is the best dad one can have
and his name is Terry.

Jaime Wong
4H

Why Do Fallen Angels Fill My Porch?

Heavy breathing, grinding teeth.
I awake with a jerk.
These nightmares have gotten the best of me,
they are starting to feel so real.
I never know when I’m awake or dreaming anymore.

I walk, slow at first.
I start speaking in a whisper, not knowing the words I mumble.
It’s as though I’m a puppet being toyed with.
I don't want to move; yet I sub-consciously feel myself running for the door.
Why?
What am I running from?

I hear faint screams.
They get louder and louder each step I take closer to the door.
I turn around to see the place I’m leaving,
It looks as though my life's fading away.
Everything’s becoming blurred.
I've lost vision.

I want to cry for help, but nothing but the endless stream of uncontrollable words escape my lips.
I struggle for the door.
Let me out of this living nightmare.

The door swings open and the darkness from the night consumes me.
The garden light is dim, but I manage to make out figures as I slowly regain sight.

Why do fallen angels fill my porch?
Why do they lie there under the blood red sky with no sign of life?
Looking up I see them falling.
Not how a human would, but slowly,
Fluttering to the ground like a dead leaf in Autumn

I run to one lying down and cover myself
with one of her limp wings in hope of protection of what’s to come for me.

If the plague is so strong as to wither the beautiful angels,
What is to become of the rest of us?

I cradle myself in her wing.

Carla Dunareanu
4J

This is How a Fairytale is Made Perfect

This is how the story goes,
I’m telling you how it really was
Before you had read those fairy tales.

There was no need for speech, they both knew it was real, but within this kept silence, this awesome love
that brought her heart to his she was glad at this moment,of how she loved him.but you see,
she wasn’t all that she wanted to be,
he found another love,
they were deeply in love, but unbeliving
she leans back for his attention, they reached out for each others hand,
like they always do,but she frowns in dismay,it didn’t feel right, it wasn’t the same.she thought he really lost him this time,little did she knowshe loves him.
Their new hearts embraced, her heart remained
forlorn, Woe! For green has conquered her soul!
she knew what she had to do,
she knew he was no longer there with her
screaming inside, wishing
he still loved her

As I am reading this fairytale,
I know it isn’t perfect, I had to
do something about it.I said a selfish prayer pouring out my fears,
then it was time for me to give up,I tore each pages, they were flaws, even though
it hurt more as each memory gets destroyed. And
I let go; gave way to let the pages write it self and
I tried my best not to love him
I was that villain that stole her glass slippers;that stopped the her from meeting her prince.They were meant to be, I concluded, not us.I compared their love and ours,I faced the truth that I was too lacking;too outspoken and my heart was too easily broken.
I held tight the torn pages of our once shared past.Grasp it within my crying hands
Yes, they loved each other
I know it will be for the better.I know it will be for them.I had to erase the fact that,
I still loved him.

Now you see, this is how the fairytale is made perfect.
And they all lived happily ever after.
The end.

Merissa Tee
4J

Undelivered

Breathing in sunny ironic air
Sinking solace in summer sand
The emptiness of the rocky void, overwhelms
my senseless reaping of your devotion.

Perhaps it was for the better; our memories
were part of my deep windy dreams
rustling between the Palms. Hands
clasped to pray that our moments
together were here to stay.

A glassed letter in the beating of cerulean;
Engulfed in the never-ending knowledge
that all is but a part of this drowning history.
Brutal changes made with every crash.

The ship has moved on
Slowly, catching the breeze once it comes
forgetting the journey of how the clouds were dancing
In our ears, secret whispers,
In our hearts, the sun shoots inner rays of laughter

As the light pass away, and let the lovely moon glow,
Woe! For they were never meant to meet.
Wanting for more, their arms outstretch
the closest embrace, their difference the days
Footsteps deep shadows hung beneath
the dark clouds. It started to pour.

As the sea rush to shore, our footprints fade
away. I decided to leave because of this bittersweet
disappointment under the droplets of burning salt.
My message in a bottle
has returned this shore once again.

Merissa Tee
4J

Not Even In Death Will Us Part

I never knew how warm it felt.
It feels almost like a lullaby as it surrounds me.
All I see is red.
It flows, like a steady stream.
Blood drips from my skin onto the cold floor.

Everyone thinks you get flash backs when you’re about to die.
Lies.
No flash backs, no white light.
Just the cold hard truth that there’s no turning back now.

I forgave you every single time you said sorry.
Even after you decided one day that you could treat me like your doll,
Pushing and beating me to the ground.
I didn’t mind.
I just wanted your touch; even it was the dawning fist that constantly came towards me,
Showing no mercy.

Don’t worry baby..
It’ll all be over soon.
I’ll make it quick.
I promise it won’t hurt, well, not for too long.

I only needed a shield in the beginning.
Something to convince me to take the first step.
I knew the rest would be easy.

Before your hand was able to inflict me with yet another love scar,
I struck you.
The blade went in with ease; like a knife to butter.
You didn’t realise till I held the blood-dripping blade in front of you.
It took you a few seconds to fall to the ground.

But you don’t understand sweetheart.
I do love you.
I love you so much.

Now we can be together forever and
And maybe this time you’ll be a little nicer.

Carla Dunareanu

nine red bottles

nine red bottles
sitting on a wall,
what's going to happen
if one were to fall?

would it smash
upon the floor,or just roll away
not caring at all

my mind filled with wonder,
how unanswerable ever
would the other eight,however
fall and break forever

Chia Choi Ling
3Justice

Betrayal

As I dangled my legs over the parapet
I wondered when this hurt inside of me will ever end
Those lies, those shattered dreams
I finally understood this was not meant to be.

He told me once and he told me twice
Pleaded with me to give him another chance
Kept saying that fairytale endings don’t always turn out right
And also to take things in my stride.

He told me that he hadn’t meant for any of these to happen
I tried to believe, I tried to trust
I tell myself that it was lust
It is just that everything had happened too fast.

As I recalled that dreadful night
Where I found him with my best friend
I remembered the tears, pain and anger
And that nothing will ever be the same again.

Atricia Chan
3 Justice

Changes

The calendar in my hands,
The faded markings I see,
Languages of many lands,
This island’s history.

The sands of time move,
And time passes by,
Things change, I’m sure,
But not everything, why?

The same people grow old,
The same people grow up,
The same old tales told,
Shared over a coffee cup.

Changes in generations,
Yet some traditions stay,
Like how we play checkers,
On every sunny day.

Despite all years past,
Despite changes that occur,
It’s still my Singapore,
My homeland all year.

Rachel Linn Braberry
3 Justice

My Sister

You were there ever since I was been born,
You were the apple of our father’s eye.
But slowly we came apart,
It tore a huge hole in my heart.

The usual arguments;
About who gets to use the bathroom first,
Were now lost and forgotten.
All that is left now,
Is a piece of a precious but distant memory.

If only good times could be revived,
But it is all different now.
We are growing up,
And free times are spent with friends.

Our lives are changing,
It’s a sign of maturity.
We start drifting apart,
And we are no longer what we’re used to be.

Amanda Chan
3 Justice

STEREOTYPE ADMIRER

She was a stereotype, just like half her class.
Adorning her room was a leftist blue Rickenbacker.
She was in love with emo one minute,
And trashy punk rock the next, along with the wind.
Her evergreens were Simple Plan, Green Day and the All-American Rejects.

He was a shy one, looking half like a girl.
A troubled family history haunted half his life.
He drowned intentionally in Malice Mizer, Miyavi, Moi dix Mois,
Playing them everywhere to show his independence, his originality.
All he wanted though was that loved popular stereotype,
whole alternate universes differed between them; he cared not.
He loved her truly; he did, with all his shadowy heart and soul.

He uttered her name with every breath he took, but
She only knew him as the quiet, ever-smiling friend always there to catch her when falling.
He fantasized darkly sinister dreams of simply holding her close.
She didn’t even know how much his obsession grew for her everyday.

She fell in love, that overrated infatuated love, for a little tiresome while.
He was pained to hear her even speak of that… what was his name?
Martin. Yes, that. Martin.
She thought him a perfect demon lover, a Grade-A turn on her friends somehow called him.
He delved deeper into darker dens,
Holding every frail shape in his arms to be her, seeing her everywhere.

And so my story goes, of the little child rejected by all,
Only to be rejected once more and then some more, all by the one.
A story too familiar to many, it remains to be finished.
A story so familiar to many, it remains to be told.

Sheefatunnessa Rabiah
4 Justice

ANNOUNCEMENT: HEAR YE HEAR YE!

Keep those poems coming girls! And keep the comments rolling in as well.
We are very excited about the poetry that you are producing! And we can tell by the comments that are made that you are also eager to read the original work of your friends.

You are creating beautiful rhapsodies of words. Keep them coming in at francisco_debra_ann@moe.edu.sg and keep coming back to the blog to read them.

Just a reminder: please attach the poems in a word document and not type it in as part of your email. It makes publishing them faster for us.

Love
Mrs Tan and Ms Yeo

Simply Singapore

Along the road sampling orchard fair
A whisp of flowery scented air
People walking here and there
Buying stuff willing to share
From paragon to heeren then on to wisma
We enjoy every moment of it!

It’s only Singapore, people say
Shopping’s nothing compared USA
I still love my homeland anyway
It will always be my home to stay

Caroline Long
3 Justice

My Homeland

Known as the ‘garden city’ during the 70s,
Orchard road, Thompson road, and other major avenues,
Trees were lined along and full of greeneries.
Evening strolls along garden walkways,
Sitting on park benches, relaxing after a long day,
Life cannot be any better in other countries
Except my one and only homeland, Singapore.

Known as the ‘multi-racial’ country,
Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasians,
No riots, no strikes, no war,
We all lived in harmony, thanks to the religious tolerance.
This is my one and only homeland, Singapore.

Known for ‘Changi Airport’,
It represents Singapore’s impressive efficient, cleanliness and technology at it’s best,
We strive at all those for others and ourselves.
This is my one and only homeland, Singapore.
This is where I belong.

Kwang Sau Yan
3 Justice

Time

Especially for the’ Just kidding’ pals.

So perfect was everything.
Tick. Tick.
Time was never on our list.
We had joy
We had fun
We had prata in the sun.
"Kosong, Cheese, Egg, Tissue"
How happy we were together.

The sun always shines
Twinkling our smiles.
Nonsense was our game
Thickskiness was the theme.
Laughter was never abandoned
Carefree was every one.
How happy we were together.

So perfect was everything.
How happy we were together.
Time was not our friend.
Parents rant but still we went on
The night conversation
Till midnight strikes
Sharing laughter, tears and joy.

How happy we were together my friends.
How happy we are now.

Julianna Iris Tan
4 Justice

The Unknown Fairytale

In my fairytale land,
So far away,
A little white girl
Came out to play.
Watching and waiting
For her prince to arrive,
She sat there all day
As days went by.

Summer came and summer blew,
Her prince then came,
out of the blue.
His gentle whispers
Carassed her heart,
She fell so quick
And yet so much.
The confession she made
Was loud and clear,
She couldn't help it,
But stood in fear.
The heart she gave
Will soon be scarred?
Nobody knows.
The fairytale's art.

Lynette Siew
4 Integrity

Home Sweet Home

Four walls of concrete slabs,
They are my home sweet home.
Straight after school I am
To go to this home sweet home.

Noise and brats I face,
Childish squabbles by both
Seniors and juniors alike.
Cold wars are a familiar sight.
Ignorance is my best bet.

Hot dinners and warm clothing,
Are all I get from my home sweet home.
4 appear at the table
where are the other 3?
Busy are the rest but
But what about me?

I want to feel understood,
Not to be blamed.
Me busy? I admit.
I Might have been caught up.
Please understand my situation now
Its not where I want to be.

I hate these 4 walls
I loathe these concrete slabs
My own solitude has led me
To a place where I can be me again.
Engulfed in love;
don’t deprive me . I have found it
don’t take it away- my only escape is
my privacy, my happiness
isn’t spared, once I step into the reality
of my home sweet home.

Nadine Thumboo
4J

A Hundred Dollars

A hundred dollars
To save the earth,
We must! We must!

A hundred dollars
To save the animals,
We must! We must!

A hundred dollars
For our wants,
We must! We must!

A hundred dollars
For the poor, the homeless and the sick,
We can’t! We can’t!

Sharna Seah
4 Justice

The Funeral

All seemed contented with his death,
None questioned his one-way ticket to hell.
His wife shooed the black cat away,
Silently murmuring it to try again.
“He was brought to the test
And was put to rest,” the priest
Spoke. The kids dressed in
Bright clothes, smiling,
Happy for the death
Of a great villain.

Tears of relief swept people’s
Faces as the coffin went into
The blazing fire. All too joyful
To speak. Suddenly a man came,
The same old devilish face, “I was
Told to take over things here,”
He announced. “Sister-in-law,” he
Addressed, she faints as she failed
To fake a smile.

Sharna Seah
4 Justice

A Forgotten Childhood

How can you ever forget our wonderful childhood?
Our fantasies, our dreams, our merry-go-round.
How can you ever forget our faces?
Our smiles, our frowns, our tears.
How can you ever forget our promise?
Our hopes, our wishes, our hearts.

How can you ever forget our adventures?
The fish we caught, the mountains we conquered, the bikes we rode.
How can you ever forget our days?
Our sun, our moon, our stars.
How can you ever forget our tomato tree?
The seeds, the twigs, the flowers.

How can you ever forget us?
Our sudden going, our last words, our last adventure.
How can you forget to smile at us?
Our unexpected meeting, our memories, our past.

Sharna Seah
4 Justice

Family

Family is important to me,
Is it important to you?
Would you bear to see break-up, quarrels,
Right in front of you?

I’ve heard screams and shouts,
And also slamming of doors.
Throwing things,
And flames coming out of their nose.

I’ve heard enough,
I’ve seen enough.
I’m getting out of this place.
Why do parents have to quarrel?
Don’t they know it’s the children that suffer in the end?

Fong Jia Min
Sec 4I

Goodbye, My Friends.

It's hard to believe it's time to go
Leave this way of life, spread our wings and grow
Saying goodbyes to those friends who are so dear to me
Shedding tears for we'll be so far apart
Remembering all the wonderfull moments we had together
Including the quarrels and fights we had
Stuck together through sunshine and rain
no matter, what happens,
Friends will always be friends.

Chng Shirley
3 Justice

Unabashedly Singapore

The green,
The lush,
And the crisp of the trees

The spick,
The span,
And the cleanliness on streets

The spin,
The buzz,
And bursting with gist

The hot,
The sticky,
The weather of heat

The patter,
The chatter,
The noise on the bus

The jam,
The impatience,
The horns from the cars

The food,
The shopping,
The passion to indulge

The police,
The security,
The need for no doubts

The lights,
The city,
From dawn up to dusk

The government,
Our homeland,
In whom we all trust.

Alethea Tan
3J

Memories of What It Used To Be

Childhood, the part of my life that felt so perfect
Leaving only snippets of perfection lingering on my mind
Memories of what it used to be

Christmas, simply magical in the eyes of a five-year-old
Holidays, gazing awestruck at everything towering above
Sleepovers, starting with pillow fights, ending with yawns
Family, positively perfect with the superheroes I adore
Memories of what it used to be

The tedious ache, feeling it all tear away
Shredding the canvas that once held the perfect picture
All that remains are just memories of what it used to be

Alone, standing at the edge of hope
Hitch hike, by the side of the dusty road
Late nights, tossing with quiet thoughts screaming to be heard
Family, torn apart by an ugly scene
All that remains are just memories of what it used to be.

Alethea Tan
3 Justice

Kiss of Death

Rip my heart open and tear me apart,
With salted tears scalding deep red blood.
Slouching at a corner, helpless and alone,
Clutching shattered shreds of our once fragile love.

Young and foolish, so naive,
To have trusted that you would never leave.
Your convincing lies, I had undoubtlessly believed,
Till sunrise dawned on Christmas Eve

Stark naked and solitude in a cheap hotel room,
Pouring my heart out, denying the blunt truth.
Yesterday's virgin, our stained sheets mocked and jest,
All in all, I was just another dirty conquest.

Unopened letters and unanswered calls,
My voice messages, you deleted them all.
The phone operator's voice, it drove me up the wall,
While you vanished from the face of the earth by nightfall.

Now I'm down on my knees,
Requesting for a final wish.
All I ask for,Is one last kiss.

Grace Tan
4 Humility

The Man On A Mission

Inspired By The Late Pope John Paul II

A great man on a mission,
To save us from damnation,
Like a shepard leading his sheep,
Over the bridges of troubled water.

His bitter fight of many ails,
Didn’t stop him from ‘The Will’,
His thoughts as a lowly servant of God,
Our opinion of him as an affectionate father to all.

Though his time has ended here,
And we know he’s there in heaven,
His story will be taught though generations -
Of his tranquility and compassion

Last but not least,
‘Rejoice!
Again I say,
Rejoice!’

Samantha Choy
4D

The Conqueror

Our love distants like
The little island blue,
Cast away from the others,
Like a strike from Neptune
Even fishes scatter once near
The doomed shore
Lovers never ventured
There before,
If we were to step on this accursed shore,
Will our passion turn into
Nothing but a thunderstorm?
I believe, nothing,
That only true love
Conquers all…

Samantha Choy
4D

The Waltz

Each step brought forth new dreams,
Our hands took position,
And our feet start moving-
Along,
With the sweet sounding melodies.

The night slowly advances,
As though Time has stopped;
Her magic.
Two souls entwined as one
Dancing to a single beat.

Romance between the
Butterflies and exotic lilies,
Sends tenderness through -
the mysterious breeze.

How I wish that
the waltz
I’m dancing with thee
Wouldn’t stop for the
Next century…

Samantha Choy
4D

Poor Little Rich Boy

Why did you give no advance warning, that you’d be gone so soon
From me? My pleasure, my life, my
Everything; gone as fast a reel-film cartoon.
I waited for you at our usual place; you never came by.

A hundred days, a million hours I waited, to get your coveted answer.
To no avail, sadly. Why is this happening to me?
Loving you, was my greatest blunder;
I regret it not; my lover, I wanted you to be.

Alas! The answer came. What was it-?
Acceptance or a refusal? To my great joy,
It was a reply that was treasured in every bit.
No more doubts, no more toil.

Every story has a beginning and an end;
What’s yours- Sadness, or a God-send?

Eng Hui Min
4J

Monsoon Children

These are the monsoon children, born of mud and rain.
These are the children, who bring deliciously disgusting destruction and joyous pain.
These are the children who come every era with no motive but to see scores slain.
These are the children born of the hideous hunger of humans who want more.

Bigger, better, cleverer, richer, faster: is all they take to consider to fight. But
Fight? Why fight? Fight with who? Fight for who? For what?
Enshrouded thus in truth, crime lies and the lust for all-rounded gain lies humanity
Never again to be freed of Heaven’s bond of greed, sadism, evil banes; not at least for eternity

These are the souls of bogus innocence, crying out to be let free, trapped within each of us safely.
These are the deceitful honey traps of invisible high-up bigshots using emotions, manipulating us.
These are the inconceivable nightmares that strike at the snap at a dirty oily finger or two.
These are the same incoherent voices that change forever our destinies.

Sheefatunnessa Rabiah
4 Justice

My Treasure

It’s been four years
Since I last saw you
But the memories of you I hold dear.
I go about my daily activities,
Holding a sweet thought of you.
But as night falls, when I shut my eyes.
Reality falls back.
You’re gone.
Flashbacks of moments we’ve shared together, fills my mind.

I recall how you snuggle and fall asleep in my arms when you were younger
And of how you’ll let out an evil laughter when your dad struggles with the diapers.
You were a little spoilt kid.
You wouldn’t leave the shop until I bought you your red toy car.
The one you called Bobo.

I still hear my phone ring in the late afternoons.
Always in hope that it’ll be your voice I’ll hear,
Begging me to get your favourite chocolate
And asking if I’ll be back home soon
But, the voice on the other line always fails me.

When I get back from work,
With your present in my hand,
You’ll always be the there to greet me.
With a smile, showing your two front teeth
And with eyes that sparkled.
But no, when I get home now
I am greeted by the stagnant air

Your artistic drawings displayed on the walls of your room.
You drew a family portrait
Of the times we’ve spent in the park,
Teaching you how to ride a bike,
To fly a kite,
Or make a sandwich with lots of chilli for you dad.
With big innocent eyes, you’ll present him your masterpiece
And after he takes a bite out of it,
You’ll run for refuge, waiting for him to chase you.

My life shattered when the doctor said you had to go,
You’ve served your purpose and that it was your time.
You had a blood clot near your heart
How it happen, why it happen
I know not.
All I know is that,
My love for you is as boundless as the sea
And that it will transude all mediums to be with you.

Priscilla Khiu
4E

Memories are Dust Under My Bed

I shift the stuff out from my room,
Try to clear the dust out with the broom.
Slowly I unpack
All these memories that I now lack.

Chancing upon a photograph,
I take a look and it makes me laugh.
The year 2001
Oh, we had so much fun,
Slapping high-fives in the sun.
Those were the great days of the past.

Digging out some ancient books,
I wiped them and take a good look.
Famous Five and the Secret Seven
All written by Enid Blyton,
Were my first steps
To learning English vocab.

And further down there are more!
Of notes and scribbles of guitar scores.
Yellow loose pages,
John Denver’s and the Beatles’ images,
And songs of love and girls,
Just makes me wanna dance and twirl.

A few hours later,
The mess is not any better.
Pushing them all back under my bed,
I resign to my fate.
These memories all with a particularly lovely date,
In my heart they are not allowed to fade.

Geraldine Cheng
4E

TV in the Sky

3 days ago,
I thought I saw bunnies.
The big fluffy tailed variety
Chasing after a weird shaped thingy,
Which I felt resembled sticks of celery.

2 days ago,
I thought I saw some sheep.
With a big bad wolf behind taking a peep.
Worrying for their safety,
Thank God I saw an old lady
(Perhaps the one from Little Red Riding Hood)
Taking a stick of wood,
Seeking for revenge,
Bashed him up like she was bashing a can!

Yesterday,
I thought I saw some dark knights,
Riding horses through the night.
But it was all too soon,
Before a dragon like a mad loon
Blew down some light rays,
And the night turned into day.
Why in the haste to runaway,
I saw one of them break a leg!

Today,
There are no images.
I sat there staring for ages,
But only saw a background of blue,
Nothing more than a hazy hue.
“Please turn the TV back on okay?”
Perhaps the clouds aren’t out yet to play.

Geraldine Cheng
4E

Crumpled Paper Bag

Love in, love out, lost the feeling;
Heartache, everlasting pain; please go away.
I give up, I’ll be leaving.
Perhaps we’ll have the chance to meet again someday?

Upon the dusk of ’98,
We sat at Boat Quay, having a fantastic meal.
Oh how lovely, how sweet, everything was heaven-made;
Yet, why did I have a foreboding feeling, instead of ideals?

Sure enough, judgment day eventually came.
My bounty, my dignity, was all washed away,
The feelings and the guilt that I felt then, was all of shame.
Why did I let myself get hoodwinked; now look at the price that I have to pay.

Even so, I must admit, deep down inside, I still long for you,
But, woe-betide me, whether you’ll come back, I have no clue.

Eng Hui Min
4J

Friendship

Friendship is a strange thing,
A friend is someone who changes your life,
By being part of it.
Bonds of friendship,
Grow stronger each day.
It’s wonderful to have a friend that loves you
And will continue to the end.
A friend is someone who cares
Someone who shares
Someone who will never lie.
Leaning on friend will give you support
And confidence in what we do.
We started our group
Our circle of friends
There is no beginning,
And we never know when it ends.

Josephine Chan
3 Justice

Her and the World

She sits, she stares, she wonders.
They pass, they look, they ponder.
She doesn’t notice them there.
They wonder if she sees their stare.
She’s alone and lonely.
They’re rushing, all busy.
She’s in a world of her own.
They’re all passing slowly so
They can see the wonder,
That is the girl, sitting down to ponder.

Rene Ashlie De Payva
4J

Footsteps Behind My Back

Footsteps behind my back.
The sound is clear,
It arouses my fear.

Footsteps behind my back.
With desperation,
My feet move fast.

Footsteps behind my back.
Wanting to hide,
Into the darkness I hide.

Footsteps behind my back.
The wall in front,
I am trapped from behind.

Footsteps behind my back,
With dread,
I turned around.

No footsteps,
No sound,
I am facing the ground.

The cold air rushes by,
I’m firmly held,
From behind.

My necked breasts,
Held aloft,
In the night.

My chastity,
Forever removed,
From my soul.

Then there was no more,
The pain was gone.
But the echo exists, forever more...

Footsteps behind my back.


Melissa Tan
4G

Misconception

Once again she found herself
in front of that frosty mirror
Disgusted and disappointed, she
pinched at imaginary flab
but all that was left was
skin and bones.
Again and again she shoved her
finger down her tender throat,
Again and again it stubbornly
Refused to regurgitate.
Outraged, she dug deeper and deeper,
scraped harder and harder,
till tears welled up her sunken eyes
and acid burned her bloody tongue.

She sought beauty in bones,
pride in perfection.
So mistaken, so misguided,
She didn’t understand.
I guess she never will.

Andrea Clare Retnam
4H

It Wasn’t Her Fault

It wasn’t her fault,
She didn’t know
That life was a torture
Here to stay.

She toiled,
From first light to twilight
for a bare few cents
To feed a family of twelve.

It wasn’t her fault,
She didn’t know,
That for working so hard,
all she would get was
just a few bruises and a few deep scars
From that beast,
Who knew nothing at all.

It wasn’t her fault,
She didn’t know,
That just tossing the dice
could cost so much.

It wasn’t her fault,
She didn’t know,
That trying to fly,
To gain freedom
would cost her
Her life.

Just with a bound,
It ended all.

Edwina Goh
4H

Empty

I lived in a house,
An empty house.
In an empty world,
With my spouse.

I feel emptiness,
In my workplace.
Emptiness surrounds me,
I’m in a daze.

Finally, the White Light,
I see the Light.
But Lo and Behold,
An empty site

Melissa Tan
4 Grace

Vampire's Pride

Slowly, surely, he strides along.
Swift as the flowing clouds.
He prances onto a side-step street,
Dances under the moon.

Stopping, suddenly, he stiffens in posture,
Sharp nose tilted to the air.
His keen ears pick up the clip-clop of feet,
Sounding very near.

A man, a woman, rounded the corner,
Into this street, unawares.
Death was lurking in the shadows,
Where they would not care.

First strike, and the man was down.
An invisible blow to the head.
Next strike made to the woman’s neck,
Lustrous blood flowed astream.

The next morning, The sun will rise,
And the town will seek to find,
Two lovers dead in a weak embrace,
A sign from the vampire’s pride.

Melissa Tan
4 Grace

Desker Road

Coming here,
I feel at home.
My kind are here,
I enjoy.

The road is straight,
Narrow and innocent.
But I know,
Pleasure is abound.

In my element,
Here I am.
In the ignored place
Of the bustling city.

We are avoided,
At all cost,
Unless one will pay,
For our services.

Not many know us,
Yet we are infamous.
We are scorned
But we actually belong.

Apart from the country,
By people, who are deemed normal.
Ignored and feared
But never forgotten.

Would you like to visit me?
Down my Desker Road?

Melissa Tan Yen Woon
4 Grace

Alska

In tribute to family history

"Dear Pappa, I understand why you threw me out,
never once did the thought cross my mind to blame you for feeling so mad.
I miss you so, Mamie too, but I did fall in love, I did accept a new belief,
and this very day a decade ago, I did wed.

Dear Pappa, all ten years you closed your door to The First Noel;
haven't you always dreamt of a grandson? Pappa, I gave you four.
Every year, Pappa, I tried though I knew forgiveness was scarce on your side,
scarce it may be, there was a chance that you might open your door.

Dear Pappa, maybe you thought God would give you the title as the first Olsen to go but
God decided to receive me particularly early, not very long now and I'd be gone.
You were not there at Holy Matrimony and I reluctantly believe that you won't be here again before I die,
but it's alright Pappa cause I know inside we both still feel the first emotion I was thought.

Dear Pappa, remember you said, 'Son, the Lord thought us all to have this in our hearts,
it's why you feel what you feel when you have to look at your loved ones from afar.
Son, you promise me this, no matter what this must be stay with you forever,' and I promised to never break that promise,
and that promise I never broke, because of one word Pappa : alska."

Lynnly Ann
4 H.

Pappa: Swedish word for Daddy
Mamie: Swedish word for Mummy
Alska: Swedish word for love

I Only Knew

I never knew how bad it was,
I only knew it happened.
The children and the youngsters,
who were robbed of their youth.

I never knew the pain they went through,
I only knew how to have fun.
The bruises and the scars they had,
while I was being loved and cared.

I never knew how they felt,
i only knew i felt protected.
The loneliness and abuses,
which gave them low self-esteem.

I never knew what I could do,
I only knew how to pity them.
But now I know that i can help,
I can make a difference too.

Mandy Tan
4J

Would you?

Would you show me again what is real?
Just take me by the hand as you did and
lead me to soft green pastures with
the smell of wildflowers in the air.
Let us once again laugh and tumble down rolling hills,
the soft grass tickling our noses.

Would you show me happiness and
beauty, the contentment of life?
Like the sparkling river that flows in my dreams, would your
love run as free as it did once for me?
Or would hatred once again,
consume your very soul then
breaking free of my tight held hand?

Would you show me again what is real?
For I do not know these images of illusions
that shrouds my visions...
Are they reality or just a facade?
Would you hold me by the hand again
Or would you break free of my tight held hand?

Natasha Lim
4 Grace

Bittersweet

Bittersweet memories flooding
The cemetery, in this cliché of tragedy.
Beautiful black sweeping gowns of velvet and satin,
Faces hidden by masks unseen by the world.
Chaos and depression have unfurled.

Crimson roses dancing and swirling but
Pierced by whirling winds of hate.
And what has caused such deep irate?
Crystal tears that stained those cheeks,
She wiped them away but again they leak.

The plastered smile she strained on her face,
Have not escaped the dark twist of fate. She knows
As she wiped those tears away.
Reality that nags the brain, crushing away each grain
of the dwelling refusal to believe the truth.

Accepting reality isn’t as easy as it should be.
He’s gone. Beneath that heavy coffin is where he lies,
His face, his eyes will haunt her dreams at night.
But he’ll be there basking in the light, to take away
Her burdens to the skies.

One night…
Perhaps one night.

Natasha Lim
4 Grace

The Queen

Confined in that big space,
Silence to her is noise.
She listens to her favourite piece –
Nocturne op. 9-2, at the break of dawn.

Sipping her cup of freshly brewed earl grey,
She watched, waiting for her bed of white roses
To turn red.

Rain fell, they fell as tears.
The windows to her soul are safely locked.
The keys, lost in the cellar filled with aged old wine.

She waltz barefooted on the cold marble floor,
Her brown ringlets danced to the momentum of the breeze.
With eyes closed, she picture the hills, filled with
Wild dandelions, wild butterflies.

The thunder killed her imagination and
What was left was a reflection of a little lady
Yearning to be free.

Mui Rui Yi
4J

A Lit Teacher's Valentine

Roses are red,
Violets are blue.
If you don't do your homework,
I will surely han tum you.

Ms Joyce Yeo

Sex, booze, drugs

Their ‘music’:
Sex, booze, drugs.
How money can
make one almighty
How money can
bring you everything.
Call this music?

Their social lives:
Sex, booze, drugs
pretty ladies on their laps
they call them chicks.
Flaunting their wealth
to tempt them all.

Their parties:
Sex, booze, drugs,
Rapping on stage,
groping the girls
Spell one word:
Extravagance.

Their fashion:
Sex, booze, drugs.
Branded T-shirts
spelling a dirty word.
Branded caps
showing an obscene finger.
Heavy studded dog tags,
cost peanuts to them

Their houses:
Sex, booze, drugs.
Furniture made of bling blings.
Huge mansions.
Huge egos.

What were you thinking?
Sex, booze and drugs?
Flaunting your wealth?
Is this the correct conception
to show on TV?
To show the children?
Ask yourself.

Jaime Wong
4H

Do You Remember?

Especially for the Pure Lit Class of 2005.
You will always be in my heart.

Do you remember
A View from the Bridge? I do.
And laughing at Amirah's interpretation
of Eddie shaving?
Do you remember jazzing to Paper Doll
and someone saying it was not in the curriculum?
It wasn't. I do.
Do you remember being held captive by Plath's Snakecharmer
and the mystical tune he piped? I do.
Do you remember Keat's La Belle
and the questions we happily left unanswered? I do.
Do you remember bursting through
my homeroom door for a test on The Going? I do.

Head buried,
Your minds "Touched With Fire",
burning from the exploration of the slap and plop of frogs
And the eventual Death of A Naturalist.
Do you remember the poems recited at
the Esplanade, as you pattered out Wilfred Owen's disdain for war
And the rapid rattle of the guns? I do.
Do you remember my reactions to
Mandy's lobes,
Therese's crazy outbursts,
Amanda's handwriting,
Avril's poker face? I do.
Do you remember how two years flew by so fast?
And how minds were shaped by dead poets and playwrights?
And how our souls could respond to the Unseen? I do.
Do you remember the sadness at the As unattained but
Life's lessons learnt? I do.
I would not have changed anything for the world.
Or have it any other way.

Do you remember the view from our bridge? I do.
It was as spectacular as the times I spent with you.

Mrs Debra Tan

The Institute

Look at how much fun they had
The laughter, the mockeries, the jeers
The mention of the institute alone
Had them all in gleeful cheer

I will begin, and divulge
Of the entire craze
That caught me, arrested me, and kept me
In the residence of the mighty minds

I was conscious, assiduous, and persistent
I was rushing for time, all those assignments
Attended the talks, the workshops and
All the essentials of school life

Soon it dawned upon me
I could not get by, too much pressure!
Three suicide attempts failed
No, don’t take me there!

Caught in depression
That disables all abilities to function
As per normal a human being
Caught, I spun the web of pessimism

Several diagnoses later…

They accused me a psycho
And I kept reminding them
‘No! No! I wasn’t one!’
They never did listen

I knew, and have always known
Of what happened
Outside the walls
Of the mental institute I reside in

They continued to mock, and
Jeer, and
Disparage the institute…
Will they only understand when they become one of us?

Nurul Zakiah Bte Mohamad Nor
Secondary 4 J

Pray

keep those memories.
may those hearts rest in peace
The tears are recognised
love from you,is felt.
a drop of your tears felt like a stomp on my bloodless heart.
my dear child from my spouse's womb,
life will take a turn.
the girl i knew will never be found,
then again its inside you
the strength and love you gave,
was never shown.
a lighted flame,
many a times melted in those eyes,
there you go,
peacefully as you were told.
pray.

Lynn Chng
3J

Save Yourself

In my world,
in their world.
Things are so different,
In my world
There are…

No wars.
No bombs.
No inhumanity.
In my world
There is so much love,
It is so different from yours.

In their world,
It is where money matters.
They kill and they betray
The ones they love.

They fire those weapons
to claim the power.
And even when they hear those screams,
The battle will not cease.

In my world there is…
So much of happy laughter,
The tears and fears will go away.
In my world
There is so much love,
It is so different from yours.
Come into my world,
Come,
Save yourself.

Jaime Wong
4H

fifteen

fifteen years
five after ten
it'll never come again.

long tinted tresses
almond eyes,
brown and soft.

psychedelic bedsheets
eggshell blue walls
stereo set and dvd player
R and B,
rock music,
pop music,
that's me.

secondary three
homework galore
headaches and heartaches
projects and essays
such a bore

sundaes and chocolates
marshmallow freak
mocha ice blended with rhumba
that's me.

low hip jeans
with black branded tees
sneakers and belts
eyeliner and rouge
on weekends,
that's me.

fifteen years
it'll never come again.

Rachel Chiang
3J

Learn

I turned on the TV,
the news is on.
There has been another bombing,
Why can’t they,
learn?

You want to threaten people
but what is this got to do with them?
You’d destroyed those innocent lives,
are you happy now?

Blood and tears are all around,
did that sight thrill you?
thrill you?

You pulled out that dangerous weapon
and you heard those screams.
But that did not stop you from firing,
why can’t you,
Learn?

They were having a holiday
and they surrendered.
Why must you ruin it for them?
Are you happy now?

Screams and cries fill the air,
did those noises thrill you?
Thrill you?

Why can’t they learn?
Why can’t you learn?

Jaime Wong
4H

21st Century Kid

Arietta, nineteen,
Looks into mirror every morning.
The purple – black bruises have only turned darker,
The wheezing, coughing, have worsened since last night.
A-I-D-S,
Stamped all over.

Bryce, seventeen,
Stares at pillow.
Clumps and clumps of dark hair,
His hair.
On the virgin white cloth.
The chemotherapy will help for only that much longer.

Candice, sixteen,
Tries to suck her stomach in further.
Even with ribs sticking out,
And twig-like arms,
She tells herself she’s just not skinny enough,
The toilet fresh with the smell of a minute ago’s vomit.

Damien, thirteen,
Whimpers and cries in a dark corner.
New sores and wounds, bleeding,
Left behind by The New Man.
He grabs the bottle of pills beside the bedroom lamp,
Can’t wait to crawl into bed with Teddy, sleep forever.

Eva, fourteen,
Lies on bed, naked.
Wonders when she’ll get herself out of this cycle.
Tired, filled with fatigue,
In a body not her own anymore.
She wants to stop servicing herself, but there’s no way out.

Frank, eighteen,
Hooked.
Cocaine, heroin, pot, ecstasy,
You name it, he’s tried it.
Days like these, when he can’t get any,
His head feels so heavy, the world spinning like a top.

Gina, twelve,
Can’t understand the mess around her.
People lying on the streets, smoke everywhere.
Strange looking men patrolling the streets
Outside the rubble that used to be her house,
Her mother dead beside her.

Howard, fifteen,
On the cobbled grounds of an alley.
Bleeding and broken.
They had called him filth and dirt,
Punched him, kicked him, spat on him.
But the wounds that hurt are those of colour prejudice.

Irin, sixteen,
Turns on the TV.
Images of perfect teens and models,
Happy people with perfect lives fill the screen.
Makes anyone wonder:
Is it a correct depiction of the 21st century kid?

Geraldine Cheng
4E

Jester

Cute you are, the apple of his eye
lucky in every way
everything I can never be
catching his attention unknowingly
I have his trust
but you have his heart.
Cupid's Jester.

Your smile he adores
mine left unnoticed
He opens his soul to me
You are his soul.
Love's Jester.

I tell him I love him
He tells me it'll pass
I pray for his heart
my prayers left unanswered.
Destiny's Jester.

Katrina Harwood
3G

4 years

4 years of friendship,
2 years of shame.
1 year of fights
I thought you’re to blame!

6 months of “friendship”,
3 months of hurts.
1 month of ‘hate yous’,
Stop being so curt

8 months of avoiding,
6 months of stares.
2 months of envy,
With temperamental flares!

7 months of waiting
6 months of craziness
5 months of slight acquaintance
I hate my prudishness

Soon

4 months of love
You have given me-
Forgiveness, acceptance
Like how we should be

Many months of real
Friendship is to come
I want to thank you –
For all that you’ve done.

Nadine Thumboo
4J

Where were you?

How many times was she ever there?
Especially when I needed her the most
Was she there when I was
made primary school prefect?
Was she that anxious parent?
Who was there, when I
received my psle results??
Was she there when I was
nominated for monitor?
Was she there when I became a cca leader
or when I received my ranks
Was she there when I was pinned a probate
Was she ever there for any of my ptm
Was she there for my 13th birthday?
-when I became a teen
was she ever there??
Will she be there when I make the council?
Will she be there when I graduate?
Will she be there when I take my ‘O’s?
Will she be there when I go to poly?
Will she be there when I get my diploma?
Will she be there to c mi to the uni?
will she ever be there?

Nadine Thumboo
4J

For my Friend

Memories and thoughts played in my head.
Thoughts of what once used to be.
Remembrance of the past,
Of how we thought we could last.

But time passed us by
And we started to drift
I guess we didn’t feel much
As we didn’t react as such:

We never cried or sighed.
We never said we cared or tried to.
But fate brought us back together,
Now, our friendship is that much stronger.

Another chapter of our lives is ending.
Another one is about to begin.
But one question still remains,
That is, are we going to drift again?

Rene Ashlie De Payva
4J

The Angel Who Left

There was sunshine and laughter
And then, there was none.
There was stress free and carefree-ness
And then, it was gone.
There was the smile of your face,
The sound of your voice,
The scent of you,
The touch of your hand.
Everything was perfect.
Was.
But one day, you were gone.
And then, there was rain.
There were tears and
A broken-hearted little girl.
She’s standing in the rain,
Waiting.
Waiting for the day
She’ll see you again.

Rene Ashlie De Payva
4J