Q

Piece written for SingPoWriMo a few months back, give a picture prompt:

–

no bells would toll for him. somewhere
the hasty half-ring of boy on bike.

we negotiate a world after: the ghost
sting of diesel missed only by student,
late, catching the tail end of -ajulah
singapura. home, the daily stray rolls
a haughty eye at barren bowl.

in headier years his biro scratched
itself dry: sir. english is no good, beg pardon. thank you for racial harmony, chinese now take my taxi.
at rallies, his lungs rattle
with alien words; joins a skyward
sea of fists.

now,
a film of dust on knuckles.
a face as single flip book page.
a child’s shriek quailed by mother,
“肮脏，不要看”