toddler magic

Toddler Alert on. The MRT

A toddler in the train

gurgling at the lights

turns the standing-only compartment

into a hub of silent bustle.

The Indian bespectacled uncle 

waves at him from one corner,

the Chinese aunty with red hair makes funny faces from another, 

the tattoed daughter and her mother, shopping bags at their feet, 

blow kisses

while the Malay grandfather 

beams over the pram,

and so,

for a few stops,

this compartment of weary travellers

glued to their phones,

becomes an animated kampong,

where folk actually seek eye contact

to connect over a cooing baby...

------'z

Maybe a toddler in the train

is all that we need

for us to bestow smiles to the other

shyly, slowly, 

lest this magic breaks.

----

Kampong Train

A toddler in the train,

smiling toothlessly

at the wonders of bright lights,

turns the standing-only cabin of the MRT

into a hub of silent bustle 

with the Indian bespectacled uncle waving at him from one corner,

the Chinese aunty with dyed red hair making funny faces from another, 

the tattoed daughter and her mother, shopping bags at their feet, 

blowing kisses,

while the Malay grandfather beams over the pram,

and so, for a few stops,

the train of usually weary travellers, 

sullenly staring at their phones,

becomes an animated kampong

of folk who catch one another's eyes 

for a chance to connect over a cooing baby...

Maybe that's all we need.

little kids

I.see kids keen high skipping and tumbling past me with envy..

These little things linger to see butterflies and flowers and odd shaped pebbles, having to be dragged across to school,  then roll head over heels or cartwheel, on a grass patch. 

Living only in the now joyfully

While parents and caregivers look ahead as they must perhaps

fire

V3 

Homam

From a bed of wood

rise orange tongues

that test the wind, 

swallow whole,

grains, spices,

honey, milk, curd,

reach higher and higher

then dance, 

to the beat of the thaval

the lilt of the nadaswaram

in a mesmerizing haze

Heat emnates in waves, 

burns away the chaff,

purifies us 

to our essence

----

Omam

The fire swallows

grains and spices raw,

honey, milk and curd 

Then dances in tongues

To the tune of the thaval, 

the nadaswaram

Mesmerising

Burning awah 

Spreading heat 

Light 

Homam

From a bed of wood

rise orange tongues

that test the wind, 

swallow whole,

grains, spices,

honey, milk, curd,

reach higher and higher

then dance 

to the beat of the thaval, 

the lilt of the nadaswaram,

in a mesmerizing haze.

Heat enmates in waves, 

burns away the chaff,

leaving us purified, 

in our essence 

creative non fiction

How I Lost My Wedding Ring

I am on a cruise ship in Mykonos with my husband of two years, headed to hot springs and I can't wait. 

But the ship stops in the middle of the ocean. The captain points vaguely to a far off shore, and says, go! Fellow passengers jump off like seals and penguins. 

No life jacket in sight, my husband the wise says no.. 

i strip down to my red hot bikini, the one i bought just for this trip so i could wear it far from anyone i know. I finger my wedding ring nervously, sit at the edge of the ship and look at the long way down to the blue.

The one floating ring has been taken by now. Not one to say no to anything though, i jump in, a red brown flame in a blue green diamond, 

I splash in the general direction 

but it doesn't get any nearer . 

My arms are going to fall off.  My chest burns. But the ship is as far behind me as the shore is before me

so i keep going 

Greedily drinking in every breath

as burly white folk sail past me laughing

The blue green turns light brown and i think Sand! 

I can stand 

But when i try

My feet dont touch the ground 

then i really scramble, fingers reaching for the nothing that is water, every breath now a fight

I see a couple chatting right by me in the water

I look at them with a mix of envy and relief and say

Excuse me sir

I'm having a bit of a trouble here

May i hold on to your arm

I dont think he understands a word but bless him, he  holds out his hand 

i grab it, careful not to break ità

While i marvel at how polite i an on the brink of drowning 

The lady just watches me as i scan the sea and find a target - a solitary rock like a lingam in the sea 

I summon the last dredges of energy and splash to it, grasp it tight, climb and stand, shivering in my red bikini. 

A fellow singaporean guy ( no matter how far i fly i cant fully get away!) floats by in a ring and i extend a hand to help him, for a dying girl can sense a dying man

He takes my hand and floats right past

Nary a glance my way 

The spring waits for me at my back

I waddle over and sit Determindly in the it 

Acknowledge the warm water, that Im alive 

But i better head back

Now i go straight for the ship 

A clear target

I alternate between dog paddling and back flipping

In between

I see my clueless man snapping pictures of me as i draw each breath like my last, mouth wide open, salt crystalising on my tongue

I shiver up the ladder and fall into his arms

Where's your ring he asks

The stupid man

I nearly died I say.

Well

So that's why my wedding ring lies at the bottom of the Greek Ocean

And why i took up swimming lessons as soon as i landed back in singapore 

Ruefully acknowledging 

That half knowledge is far more deadly than no knowledge. 

sonic boom poem 2

Lovely lyrics echo poem

Inspired by illaya nila

இளைய நிலா பொழிகிறதே

Mohan strums the guitar that tugs at my heart

SP Bala fills the air,

I am 10, 16, 25, 43

வரும் வழியில் பனி மழையில்

பருவ நிலா தினம் நனையும்

The young moon bathes in dew

I look for that same moon every night

out of my window

She doesn't come one night, I actually cry

முகிலினங்கள் அலைகிறது முகவரிகள் தொலைந்தனவோ

My heart searches too 

Like the clouds for your voice 

But you left no address 

முகவரிகள் தவறியதால் அழுதிடுமோ அது மழையோ

The sky darkens

My upturned face lifts tears to the rain

For the clouds to wipe them dry

உலா போகும் மேகம்,  

கனா காணுமே, 

விழா காணுமே வானமே

Now I can dance with the moon too

sonic boom poem 1

Inspiration: Mayanginaen Solla Thayanginaen

V2 

On a beach, sand underfoot

blue green waves wash the shore

A love song sings friendship,

lilting voices spilling laughter 

Cassete tapes entwine lives

Record, Rewind, Play

Just seventeen 

The world a carpet 

Unrolling before their feet

What can a song do?

Where can it take us? 

Where have we gone?

------

Lying on a beach, 

sand underfoot, blue green waves 

wash the shore

Floating above dancing waves 

twinkling gold 

in the light 

After the rain

The sky washed fresh 

Green is lush abundunance 

Love song that sings 

friendship,  lilting voices

Spilling laughter 

Cassete tapes 

entwinine lives of best friends 

Record, Rewind, Play

Just seventeen 

The world a carpet

Before their feet

What can a song do

Where can it take us?

Where have we gone?