The poem I'm doing is The Portrait of a Sentenced Library by Alfian Sa'at.
I think the mess of words in this wordle represents a pile of rubble from demolished buildings, which is the basic essence of the poem - of tearing down buildings and memories before their time is up.
The Straits Times article: http://www.asiaone.com/Business/My%2BMoney/Property/Story/A1Story20080607-69472.html
Picture!
A corridor in an old block of HDB flats, which houses mosly senior citizens.I feel that all 3 items reflect the same theme, of tearing down old buildings, which symbolises the destruction of our past and also losing old memories. In the article, words that jump out are "buildings, flats, blocks, housing, heritage, conservation". It speaks about how destroying old buildings in Singapore is symbolic of destroying our heritage, and how we should actually preserve our culture by keeping these buildings, instead of constructing new ones and setting up 'heritage conrners'.
I like the poem the best, because I think it expresses the poet's feelings toward the subject really well, and fully explored his sadness. One can almost hear him sighing, as he concludes : "One cymbal left in Chinatown./Blueprints and forums and rhetoric ensure/That a firecracker makes no sound." He is makign a statement about killing off our heritage, as a firecracker is always used in Chinese celebrations. Also, a firecracker makes a joyous sound and proclaims happiness, but by muting out its sound, it suggests the loss of happiness and life in that place.
I think that people in the future who read this will still be able to identify with it, because I believe that industrialisation and constant change will never stop in Singapore. This cycle of tearing down old buildings and constructing shiny new ones in their place will never end because it is the way of the world, to constantly upgrade oneself so as not to fall behind other countries.
