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