2150 hrs October 26th 2005

I just had a beer

at the Simei kopi tiam.

I've always enjoyed

sitting down

watching all the uncles

drinking their beers

alone.

Makes me wonder,

who are they?

where did they come from?

why are they not

with their families?

why are they not

with their friends?

Did they not have

a love life?

Fuck you,

tell a Singaporean girl,

to date a guy

who lives in a rented

HDB room,

not even flat,

let alone one

who does not drive

his own car.

Were they once

very rich?

Or have they been

poor all their lives?

But I watch

as they drown their sorrows

in yet another beer,

staring blankly

at the mug.

What's on their minds?

Don't they dream

about our 5Cs?

Sure they do,

government said upgrade

your skills.

Fuck you,

try telling a truck driver,

to upgrade

and be a B to B website engineer.

Don't they feel lonely?

Lonely,

is just another word,

once you're grown

used to it.

But through it all,

I admire

the tenacity.

Work,

have a beer,

hit the bunk

and sleep.

Tomorrow

is another day

to get by.

Love,

if not fleeing illusions

can be bought

for a price

at Geylang.