Last Word The Poem by john tiong chunghoo

as the child
grew into boy
and boy into man
he precipitated
his childhood inoncence
out of me
sadly missed
his steps
dotting each of mine
turning my world
round and round
with joy, cheering up my years
year after year
his chirpy voice
relaxed a stressful heart
my nerves
then a hoarseness
little solemness
crept in between us
a distance
found its way to the heart
his brain began to
grow roots in the fields
so many steps away
from my heart
he did not even
had time for my love
the real umbilical cord cut
i abandoned him
to another bossom
secretly turning him over
the cauldron of love
that still stirs in my heart

inspired by

Last Word, The

Creep into thy narrow bed,
Creep, and let no more be said!
Vain thy onset! all stands fast.
Thou thyself must break at last.
Let the long contention cease!
Geese are swans, and swans are geese.
Let them have it how they will!
Thou art tired: best be still.
They out-talked thee, hissed thee, tore thee?
Better men fared thus before thee;
Fired their ringing shot and passed,
Hotly charged - and sank at last.
Charge once more, then, and be dumb!
Let the victors, when they come,
When the forts of folly fall,
Find thy body by the wall!
Matthew Arnold