Palinode XII

Palinode XII


I couldn’t believe
my ashes

were lowered
by a

ribbon
into the sea

in a gift
box.

Not a chance
to stay

on anyone’s
fingers.

Not a chance
to fly with the wind

and whip
back

into anyone’s
eyes.

Singapore
does not take, nor give, chances.

You dropped me
off the

dedicated boat
to the

sea bed,
where I lay

unopened,
where

I
dissolved.

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