Palinode XI

Palinode XI


Live and let
live,

I said
to my fishes

in the tank
when your mom

complained
about church

leaders. Live
and let

live, I said
to my

potted plants
in the common corridor

when your sister
refused

to speak to her aunt
after that trip

to Australia.
One by one,

the guppies and the barbs
and the killifish

turned on
their side

and floated
up.

Out on the
corridor,

my chilli plant
lost

its fiery interest
to live.


 Credit:Straits Times, August 3, 2017

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