DANYA
The Singaporienne: A Novel

Was it you who spoke the words that things would happen but not to me
Oh things are gonna happen naturally
Oh taking your advice I'm looking on the bright side
And balancing the whole thing
But often times those words get tangled up in lines
And the bright lights turn to night
Until the dawn it brings
Another day to sing about the magic that was you and me

3:20 PM My paper planes

These paper planes I fly for you today.
I meant to fly some everyday,
But there was alway homework,
And a thousand other things:
My planes are broken birds with pinioned wings.

I remember your planes swirling with grace,
Dancing to your bubbling laughter's pace,
Lifted by your capers and your smiling face;
You loved to give life to pheonixes galore
And fling off tower blocks, watch them soar
In defiance of every earthly law.

I regret not joining you,
Siding with Mom when you set free
Earthbound homework into dreams that flew;
I asked you to grow up, face the world,
But I didn't actually expect to see,
Didn't expect you to follow your planes onto the brutal road.

I've thrown my last one now.
I hope the wind will lift its wings to you,
And you can judge how well
I've tried to make my planes!
If only my spirit could be airborne like yours was...
I suppose you're happier now,
Riding on your imagination's flight,
Away from the dull earth you understood better
Than I do.

Poor pieces of paper
Are all I have left of you.

By Kenneth Wee