The silver-haired squad abounds this morn,
amidst joggers and cyclists at leisure
and labour, along this emerald corridor
where coal and diesel reigned
as ancient sunshine-fuelling journeys
across the archipelago. Tendrils of light
curl into fingers of twine, a hint of breeze
stirring the overnight murk.
Recycled plastic bags hanging off elbows,
keen squaddies hunt blue blossoms
left, right, down the rail track;
the spouses lukewarm towards the harvest,
but their toast and cuppa cravings tempered
by marital solidarity.
Home, splayed on laminate tops or tiles:
Clitoria ternatea, the blue pea from
Ternate of Maluku Isles, its lineage
via Linnaeus three centuries past.
Azure flowers destined for pots
botanical and culinary. Floral gems
bearing life as home décor cerulean,
giving life as folk remedy and dye –
butterfly pea tea for what ails,
indigenous cakes indigo, desserts
glutinous, sweet, umamious.
While butterflies scour in vain
the rail corridor for blue.
–
Ping Yi writes poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction. After a three-decade detour in public service, he resumed his lifelong interest in speculative, humour and travel writing. His work appeared in Orbis (Readers’ Award Joint 1st), Litro (Editor’s Pick), London Grip, Meniscus, StepAway, Harbor Review, Vita Poetica, Litbreak, ONE ART and Poetry Breakfast, among others, and is forthcoming in The Stony Thursday Book and MacQueen’s Quinterly. Ping Yi lives in Singapore with his spouse and their son.
