The friends of Yong Vui Kong celebrated his 24th birthday at the Speakers’ Corner today. TOC wishes Vui Kong happy birthday as well and request Singapore’s Cabinet to consider granting him his one birthday wish – a second chance at life. The following is a poem by Howard Lee. Howard says that he sends a birthday wish of peace to Yong Vui Kong, “but this is written for the Singapore Cabinet, on which rests the future of this young man.”
The dawn of a new day clears the mist.
We go about our daily dues.
Do what you can, take a few good risks,
For tomorrow again, we try anew.
But for some, each day is barely done
For repenting, reflecting and making amends.
Inner peace matters when dusk comes,
If you know the day and hour it ends.
All have one life, yet some have more breaths.
What would you do, if there is no logic in death?
Life’s complex, we say, too many villains.
An assault on values is our greatest fear.
Too much at stake if we ponder variants.
A show of strength is not to waiver.
But what of the heart that beats true
To a cause or need we’ve never witnessed?
Vexed answers we seek from simple rules.
Our fixed mindset, to praise or curse?
When we are done judging by virtue of maths,
We might realise, alas, there is no logic in death.
Do our people want blood on their hands?
Is there order found at a noose end?
Are a hundred maybes worth the life of a man?
Do we even know what we defend?
The legals have decided the penalty to be.
That course has run, now is your turn.
The difference between a trial and clemency
Is the compassion you can give in return.
If we but recognise the role we play best,
Then we’ll see there is no logic in death.
Do we give thought to remorse and sadness,
While for happiness we strive?
Or are we caught up in the busy-ness
That rules the seconds of our lives?
Were there times you wished to be forgiven,
By God, by man, by those you offend?
Will you reach out and touch a face so foreign,
And realise you, too, have made amends?
If we all had to take the same last test,
Might we believe there is no logic in death?
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picture credit: Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss’ Facebook
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