Denise Lim 2D'06

Though the botanical garden indeed compromises of many plant species, not all of them were originally found in Singapore. This goes likewise for the soil and animals present there. The majority, i would say was imported from overseas and replanted(for plants) or set free (for animals) to their new (limited) habitat. Thus my poem is about the feelings of those who had gone through the effects of this change of environment.


All in the bliss of irony

Imprinted into our memory, the distant past.
How free we were, without any mask.
But free no more, for caged are we,
All in the bliss of irony.

We used to dance, alongside out kin.
With joy and laughter, perfectly blended together.
Then caught some were, sent to a faraway land,
All in the bliss of irony.

We used to swim, in massive numbers.
With webbed feet, and scaly skin.
But race no more, for separated are we,
All in the bliss of irony.

We used to sway, in the breeze
All elegant and tall, in synchronized harmony.
But uprooted some were, and replanted in foreign territory
All in the bliss of irony.

We used to be rich, we used to be vast,
Supporting all life, without a fuss.
But support no more, for bought and sold are we,
All in the bliss of irony.

The swans met the tortoises, the trees met new soil.
An new life begain, in this caged foreign territory.
The past is long gone, and the present lay before out feet,
Live is to live, so we move on.

Our past shall and always
be within our hearts,
All in the bliss of our ironic memory...



Swans and tortoises...

A swan looking helplessly out of place..

A tree being "caged" up...


Denise Lim 2D'06