CAUSEWAY ONE:
WAITING FOR IMIGRESEN
friday nights, the queue snakes from woodlands,
a python which feasts in two weeks
it is in no hurry
crossing these Straits have never been easy
not when the Japanese fought the tide,
swimming among husks,
not in 1963 - bonds built bombed by konfrontasi
not even now as a train rolls with difficulty
from the tanjong pagar station,
doubtful of its own identity
if only we would stop talking to ourselves,
hold our forked tongues and
with our bellies and ears to the ground,
understand that even though the causeway
was moulded from unyielding stone,
just beyond it, all is water
under the bridge
August 1998
Darren Shiau - Peninsular (2000)
In the opening, the poem describes the weekly scene of the jammed Causeway. The Causeway is more than just a physical bridge that unites Singapore and Malaysia, unites families post-Independence. It is also acts as a psychological barrier that separates two countries that formerly used to be one. Further, the Causeway played a significant role during world war two when the Japanese came from the north (from Malaysia) instead of from the south (as predicted by the British). This and other historical references highlights the fact that the history of Singapore and Malaysia cannot be as easily separated - the two countries share a common history. The imagery of the snake can be hinted to be both positive and negative connotation but I feel that the poet is trying to drive home the point that Singaporeans should not perceive our neighbours with animosity (“hold our forked tongues”) but rather, be accepting of our neighbours who have already welcomed us with open arms. This implies that despite after being forced to separate, we have now come full circle and have been accepted back to a certain extent.