Sunday, 9 August 2015

Happy National Day Singapore

The tip 
Of a peninsula
A point where fisherman met
To barter and make merry
To raise families
A future from the sea

The tip
Of a storm 
Lightning and thunder
Between pride and empires
In a lion, a prince saw hope
And gave a name 

The tip
Of colonial commerce 
Worth fighting for 
It took white men to see potential
To connect the dots 
And attract the hopeful

The tip
Of power changing hands
On bicycles they came
Towards guns pointed away
To christen a new darkness
As light of the south

The tip 
Of a resolute spear
A yearning to lead ourselves
Grateful for the tired master
But unsure in changing tides
Red menace, hungry neighbours 

The tip
Of a painful birth
An abortion of political relations
From united federation
To a fragile state 
No looking back now
Everyone suddenly together 

The tip
Of a vision
One man, his team, a million people
To clear and clean
To transform and progress
Under a firm hand
With eagle eye and furrowed brow

The tip
Of greatness
Never there but always inching closer
The people driven
Children learning, gears turning 
You can count on me
Because this is my country

The tip
Of destiny
A people proud but not content
In a glittering city they call home
Also home to a fleeting army
Together in a tiny boat 
Of rising expectations

The tip
Of certain uncertainty 
We take careful steps
On shifting ground
Shaping a shared future
Of ups and downs
A red dot set to glow brighter

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