The Shadow

He stays at home
Wandering like a ghost
Not knowing what to hold
Time has no significance
Like sand through the hour glass
He sleeps
Day in day out

Occasionally
He wanders with eyes wide open
But those glassy eyes
Belie the emptiness within
What is it? You think

The scratching starts
Starts from one part
You try to shut your senses
But the scratching starts
So there is no running
You wait
For the sound to fade

Yes...
The shadow drifts
Back to the hollow field
In slumberland
Never mind the obvious irritants
At least there is peace
For now.

Cold teeth

Tonight, the sensation returns.
To haunt.
The cold enamel,
The flat cutting edge (what an irony),
Like the whiff of cheap durian from right-side neighbour,
The irritating worm-wriggling pain,
Starts.

Touched by an angel.

Date. 21 February 2009. Time. 3.10pm. Venue. Bukit Panjang Plaza T-junction.

It was pouring. Another unpredictable humid rainy day in Singapore. (Actually, it rained a while ago and stopped, so it's not THAT unpredictable coz the sky was still an overcast.)

I was stubborn and left my brolly at home. After all, it's just a 7-minute walk to the Bukit Panjang Plaza from my home. Boy oh boy, was I wrong or too gung-ho. I was drenched and waiting under a corner of the LRT track for the darn traffic light to turn green at the T-junction. Two women with umbrellas stood next to me - one Chinese and one Malay. Both started crosing the road when the light turned green. I made a beeline across the flooded road as the green man flickered.

My cheap flip-flops were soaking in all the dirty water and just as I stepped into a puddle and passed the shoulder of the Malay young lady, she saw me. What happened next was completely unexpected.

"Eh?" She exclaimed and immediately moved closer, bringing HER umbrella above my head. At the same time, she grabbed my waist gently and held me close to her - so that more of me would be sheltered. All in a split second.

To say that I was shocked beyond words is an understatement. I was just a stranger in the rain. And she sheltered me without thinking. What a generous act. I never in my life expected anyone to be this kind. Much less in a mercenary society caught in times of burgeoning economic gloom.

Before I could recover from shock, we reached the Bukit Panjang Plaza covered walkway. She released me and said "Goodbye" and I thanked her with a smile. By the time i recovered my composure, I remembered what i forgot. I forgot to ask for her name. All I recalled was her light pink sweater and swift kind act.

I can't for the world of me get over what happened. How can anyone be so kind to a complete stranger? I am touched and I believe there is hope for Singapore, despite the selfish majority. Dear god, please bless the lady and those who are like her. I will strive to live a different life. I want to thank her again and hope that people may read about a gesture that is simple but rarely performed. My life is better today, because I was touched by an angel.