flame of the forest by Aaron Lee
flame of the forest ('delonix regia')
each scarlet cluster
a patterned heat,
this tree I love
is a blueprint for the sun.
The way each flower
tilts its tiny face
to the light answers
my every question.
Published in A Visitation of Sunlight (1997)
Aaron Lee is a prize-winning poet, writing mentor, community organiser and banking lawyer. He has three poetry collections to date, the latest being Coastlands (2014), which was launched at the Singapore Writers Festival. His first poetry collection, A Visitation of Sunlight (1997) was voted one of the year's best books by The Straits Times (1997). Aaron has also co-edited several poetry anthologies including the best-selling No Other City: The Ethos Anthology of Urban Poetry (2000). Lee's work has been published internationally and performed at international festivals and conferences. He is married to Namiko Chan Takahashi, a multi-disciplinary artist, and they live in Singapore. They are founding members of Agapella, a popular contemporary Christian a cappella group.
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blue by Madeleine Lee
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Corridor by Theophilus Kwek
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First Petition by Divya Victor
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From A to Z, an Insomniac Zoetrope Spins through Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Midnight to Dawn by Yeow Kai Chai
G-L
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How to Fly the Singapore Flag by Daren Shiau
I Watch the Stars Go Out by Felix Cheong
In Good Faith by Wong May
In the Time It Takes by Lawrence Ypil
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Kelong by Boey Kim Cheng
kirato's koi by Eddie Tay
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M-R
Meeting Your Mother, Meeting You by David Wong Hsien Min
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Moorings by Paul Tan
my mother thinks i dream in bengali by Wahid Al Mamun
Night by Anne Lee Tzu Pheng
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Untitled by Hamid Roslan
Plastic Ghosts #5 by Marc Nair
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Renovation by Edwin Thumboo
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S-Z
Seeing Snow for the First Time by Yong Shu Hoong
Simple Days (Remembering Mother in Portugal, June 2015), Day 12 by Heng Siok Tian
Since You Told Me by Toh Hsien Min
Singapore Night Song by Simon Tay
Singapore River on Exhibit by Eric Tinsay Valles
sunday morning by Jonathan Chan
tea by Angeline Yap
The horizon bends by Izyanti Asa'ari
The Lover as Figured in Impressionist Terms by Jollin Tan
The Search by Robert Yeo
The Tai-chi Man by Ong Teong Hean
The Walk Back by Tania De Rozario
Three Faces of Night by Wang Gungwu
Towering by Fiona Sze-Lorrain
Upsizing by Daryl Lim Wei Jie
Visitor by Jerrold Yam
Walk to Work by Aaron Maniam
White Fire by Christine Chia
追 (Pursuit) by Loh Guan Liang
曲/取 by Crispin Rodrigues -
Sebutir Pasir
A Grain Of Sand
by Dr Hadijah Rahmat
Membelah Budi
A Severed Mind
by Abdul Ghani Hamid
Lebih Baik Sendiri
Better Alone
by Sofia Nin
Di Hujung Tumit Sendiri
Edge of One’s Heel
by R. Azmann A. Rahman
Bunga Lalang
Lalang Flower
by Isa Kamari
Warkah Untuk Seorang Isteri (Buat Su)
Letter To My Wife (For Su)
by Yatiman Yusof
Cinta adalah Makrifat
Love is a Blessing
by Djamal Tukimin
Bicaraku Dengan Sang Rumput
My Conversation With The Grass
by Wan Jumaiah bte Mohd Jubri
Rayuan Asmara
Pleas of Romance
by Muhammad Ariff Ahmad (MAS)
Pelangi
Rainbow
by Mohamed Latiff Mohamed
Melayah Tabah Ke Mercu Jaya
Sailing Steadfastly to the Pinnacle of Success
by Nordita Taib
Selat Tebrau
Tebrau Straits
by Juffri Supa’at
Ini Nasi Yang Ku Suap
This Rice I Eat
by Masuri S.N
Menuju Pantai Bahagia
Towards the Shore of Happiness
by Suratman Markasan
Tuk, Tuk, Tuk
by Farihan Bahron -
温柔的城市
A Gentle City
by 语凡 (Yu Fan)
书香
Book Fragrance
by 邹璐 (Zou Lu)
云
Clouds
by 刘瑞金 (Henry Low Swee Kim)
醉
Drunk
by 黃文傑 (Wang Mun Kiat)
对角戏
Duologue
by 贺尔 (He Er)
青木恋人
Lover of Verdant Trees
by 欧筱佩 (Aw Seow Pooi)
莫兰迪色系
Morandi Hues
by 伍政玮 (Ng Zhengwei)
夜调
Nocturne
by 孤星子 (Ang Lai Sheng)
安静不因我们离去更安静
Silence that is no more silent
by 潘正镭 (Pan Cheng Lui)
慢
Slowly
by 梁文福 (Dr Liang Wern Fook)
彩窗
Stained Glass Window
by 林得楠 (Denon Lim Denan)
石头
Stone
by 英培安 (Yeng Pway Ngon)
走进图书馆的树：前身是树，今生是书本
The Tree at the Library Entrance
by 王润华 (Prof Wong Yoon Wah)
二老走植物园
Two Elders Stroll in the Botanic Gardens
by 林高 (Lin Gao)
伞内·伞外
Within/ Without
by 淡莹 (Dan Ying) -
அழகு
Beauty
By மு.அ.மசூது (A.R. Mashuthoo)
பாடம்
Lesson
By லதா (Latha)
முதுமையின் அரவணைப்பில்
Life's Journey
by சுலோசனா கார்த்திகேசு (Sulosana Karthigasu)
பார்வை
Look
By ஷிவ்ராம் கோபிநாத் (Shivram Gopinath)
ஞாபகத் தடங்கள்
Memory Lanes
By எம். சேகர் (M. Segar)
போகப் போக புதியன காணல்
New Meanings
By வை.சுதர்மன் (V. Sutherman)
சன்னலில் வெளியே அமர்ந்திருந்த கவிதை
Poem Outside My Window
By சித்துராஜ் பொன்ராஜ் (Sithuraj Ponraj)
அன்பருக்குக் கவிதை
Poetry's Charm
By சிவமாலா (Sivamala)
நரை வெளிச்சம்
Twilight
By க.து.மு. இக்பால் (KTM Iqbal)
Poems on the MRT is an initiative by the National Arts Council, in partnership with SMRT and Stellar Ace. Produced by Sing Lit Station, a local literary non-profit organisation, this collaboration displays excerpts of Singapore poetry throughout SMRT’s train network, integrating local literature into the daily experience of commuters. Look out for poems in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil in trains on the East-West, North-South and Circle Lines, as well as videos created by local artists and featuring local poets in stations and on trains. The Chinese, Malay, and Tamil poems are available in both the original languages and English. To enjoy the full poems, commuters may read them on go.gov.sg/potm.