Local poetry comes to life at the Drum

On 5 April 2007, in a talk with the literature cohort, NUS lecturer Dr Gwee Li Sui shared his profound insight into the life and works of Boey Kim Cheng, a local poet now residing in Australia. The talk was hosted by the Drum, and was open to all students.

Boey Kim Cheng wrote his poetry during a time in which Singapore was experiencing a resurgence of nationalistic fervor. For example, many iconic songs such as 'Count on me Singapore' were publicized and made popular during this period. However, Boey decided to explore the universal instead and thus created a mental distance between himself and the concept of 'Singapore' which he felt was artificial. This viewpoint is potently reflected in his poetry. His themes consciously move away from the local context, engaging the reader with images of exotic lands and the idea of paradise, that are in opposition to the closed, monolithic voice of nationalistic sentiment he observed that was shaping the social context of the country.

Through Boey's poetry, we see the national ideology – the Singapore Dream – exposed as a hollow ideal, with the pursuit of wealth and status portrayed at the expense of true values, which eventually results in us losing sight of paradise. Dr Gwee grew rather emotional as he revealed how the poet tends to portray artists alongside the poor, sending the somber message that being artistic in Singapore almost means being equated with poverty.

According to the poet, the speed of change is so violent in this highly materialistic world of ours that we are dislocated and have to live with a conjured image of the lost Singapore, creating the illusion of rooted-ness to complete ourselves. Following the materialistic ideology disconnects us from the real world.

"In that case, why did the poet leave Singapore?" a student wanted to know. "Rather than stay and lead the fight against this ideology?"

"It was a personal choice," replied Dr Gwee. "Perhaps the claiming of national ideology on his art made him realize the struggle was too great… so that he could not be himself here. Some go abroad to get more economic opportunities, others go for the opposite reason."

As it may be impossible to rediscover the lost Singapore, the raw and beautiful poetry of Boey Kim Cheng leaves a lingering impression in people, encouraging them to realize their power to conjure a lost past while being engaged in the relentless pursuit of the future.

By Khor Kuan Liang