POEMS

Jonathan Lim wrote this poem after 911 and when he heard that by reclaiming Chek Jawa at Pulau Ubin, the tallest tree in the island, a Pulai (Alstonia angustiloba), would have to make way for this development.

A group of passionate Singaporeans who wanted to celebrate the life of this old giant gathered around the tree on 20 October 2001 to read poems, monologues from plays and sing. A dignified way to garland and honor the Pulai giant. Our quiet way to object to the lost of such a majestic heritage.

The authorities surprised everyone by deciding to reverse the decision. Chek Jawa was saved. We rejoiced that the coastal forest with the old history was spared in the process. If MND could reverse that decision more than 10 years ago and found other creative solutions for the development of Singapore, would LTA do the right thing and also re-route the line? We must remain hopeful and hope that LTA would be equally enlightened.

10/11

A month ago we proved that we could fell each other’s trees

Steel oaks with leaves of glass

Proudly unshaken as a city, a world, grew around it, grew from it

But we proved that even they could fall

Proof we did not need but had to have

Proof that the trees we build, we destroy

Perhaps through no fault of our own

but habitual blindness

What are we here for then?

These are not our trees

Not built, but grown

An architect far wiser put them here

based on blueprints we will never see

Did we, in some ordered fit

imagine that we had a part

to play in changing this design ?

We who cannot keep our proudest towers from falling

who are we to upgrade god’s housing ?

Perhaps we should be grateful that some things still stand

still withstand

the roar of our folly –

perhaps we should look heavenward

and know

that nature’s birds

do not collide with nature’s trees

 

Jonathan Lim, October 2001

You can see more photos at Lai Chee Kien’s FB photo album

MUSIC

Official Video of Love our MacRitchie Forest

The Line