Timely Fragments

Old Jambu tree Still bearing fruits; Generous delights ~~~~~~~~~ NDP crowd Massive tapestry; Community celebration ~~~~~~~~~ Each passing year Affirms our country; Diversity in oneness ~~~~~~~~~ We celebrate Our little red dot; Gratitude remembers ~~~~~~~~~ So much to see So little time; Familiar complaint ~~~~~~~~~ Fireworks display After The Pledge; Poignant philosophy ~~~~~~~~~ Politics means action Mere words concede; Happy results count ~~~~~~~~~ Propaganda campaign True to life stories gel; Go beyond good intentions ~~~~~~~~~ Today is Another day; Celebrate well ~~~~~~~~~ Doing well Sparkles fine zest; Learning outcomes tell ~~~~~~~~~ Live telecast Nation on parade; Our thanksgiving prayer ~~~~~~~~~ Rainbow colours here Yellow, brown and black; Many shades and tints abide ~~~~~~~~~ Here lies Our hopes and dreams; KPIs fashion ~~~~~~~~~ New happenings Here and there; Changing vistas ~~~~~~~~~ Demand feeds supply Expensive real estate; Living costs escalate ~~~~~~~~~ Rumour mongers Offers of high returns; Just before a crash ~~~~~~~~~ Irony joins cynicism Reality check puzzling; Market trends deceive ~~~~~~~~~ Moody mindset Reverse psychology; Groggy outcomes ~~~~~~~~~ Growing old Can be worrisome; Living expenses skyrocket ~~~~~~~~~ This little island home Where dreams still thrive; God bless Singapore ~~~~~~~~~ Uniquely different Quirky tempos preside; Famous since 1965 ~~~~~~~~~ Oh my country How do I love thee? Face, maze and grace ~~~~~~~~~ All in due time I hear your ancient rhymes; Especially the road signs! ~~~~~~~~~ August 9th each year I join with my friends; Celebrate homecoming here ~~~~~~~~~ Wherever I go A Singlish word spurs Feelings of home ~~~~~~~~~ Once I was in Las Vegas, Diner at a Chinese restaurant; Felt good at Singlish overheard ~~~~~~~~~ Home is where heart Lives with love: Singapore -- Always in my heart ~~~~~~~~~ Leon Emriquez 09 August 2014 Singapore (Notes: Jambu = A local fruit that grows all year round; Jambu is the local Malay name for a species of Guava fruit common to Singapore and Malaysia. NDP = National Day Parade in Singapore; Each year on August 9th, Singaporeans celebrate our country's independence. KPIs = Key Performance Factors are goals or benchmarks to measure performance in scales that are measurable, especially to chart progress. Singlish = A local coinage or dialect that borrows from English and other local mother tongues to derive a local colloquial slant known as Singlish.)