Of Life And Oranges
Everybody thinks their story is most tragic. I am no different.
Jeannette, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
________________________________________________________
I stand atop Mount Faber, looking out into the vast, dark expanse that is Singapore. I'm told that it is the highest point of the island.
It's beautiful at night. During the day, it becomes like any other Asian city. Busy and plentiful, though relatively clean.
But at night...
At night it would light up, its inhabitants asleep, resting for what tomorrow may bring them. Tonight, I bear them no grudges.
Tonight I marvel.
I look at the flickering lights in the distance, rows of little orange beans lighting up the entire island.
"There is no part of Singapore that is dark," said my friend who was also my host. "Everywhere you look there is light."
And then God said, let there be light. I can't remember which day that was supposed to be.
No matter.
I look at their life, and realise that it is only and exactly that. Their life. So much more to this world than our own. Their tears, their pain, their frustration, their anger, their love, their joy.
Their home.
It's wonderful.
I bid them a slow goodnight, letting it drift into the etherness of the never ending night.
Jeannette, Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit
________________________________________________________
I stand atop Mount Faber, looking out into the vast, dark expanse that is Singapore. I'm told that it is the highest point of the island.
It's beautiful at night. During the day, it becomes like any other Asian city. Busy and plentiful, though relatively clean.
But at night...
At night it would light up, its inhabitants asleep, resting for what tomorrow may bring them. Tonight, I bear them no grudges.
Tonight I marvel.
I look at the flickering lights in the distance, rows of little orange beans lighting up the entire island.
"There is no part of Singapore that is dark," said my friend who was also my host. "Everywhere you look there is light."
And then God said, let there be light. I can't remember which day that was supposed to be.
No matter.
I look at their life, and realise that it is only and exactly that. Their life. So much more to this world than our own. Their tears, their pain, their frustration, their anger, their love, their joy.
Their home.
It's wonderful.
I bid them a slow goodnight, letting it drift into the etherness of the never ending night.
Comments
Thanks for sharing your vision.
To Gurustu: I wouldn't know about world peace, but it was a satisfying exprience all the same.
To Zooool: To be honest, I'm not sure. I had such thoughts when we went there, and I tried to put it down. This is the end result, and I think it sounds nice. I especially like the ending, even if dictionary.com claims that there is no such thing as 'etherness' :> But it feels right all the same. Plus, two good comments on a post about Singapore. You really shouldn't be complaining... :>
But, don't forget to share the royalty then :P:P:P..
Mt Faber is fabulous though. I know this is not the point, but i'm purposely missing it :p
To my Lady Aronil: It is the most striking of all the statements in 'Oranges'. Certainly made me think more than usual :>
To Daniel: I've never been to Bukit Timah. Funnily enough, I was reading about it a couple of minutes ago in one of my subject readings. Apparently it's rather historical...
I'm not saying this with reference to anything in particular, mind. I just thought it's a wicked quote, and how, in each and every of our lives, it's so blazing true...
Mount Faber, Mount Faber.
"These vagabond shoes are longing to stray" - Frank Sinatra