Competition Results

Congratulations to Davita Koh and Erahilwana of 4E2!

In May, a group of students participated in a literary competition organised by Nanyang Girls' High School. Details are in the May entry in this blog. We are pleased to announce that after much consideration by the organising committee and various teachers (National Education, English Language and Oxford graduate teachers), Davita's poem came in second, out of 60-odd entries received. Erahilwana's poem received commendation.

The winning entries will be published on the organiser's website shortly. http://www.ystte.com/html/winning_entries.html. There are future plans to publish the top 30 entries in a book entitled "Your Singapore through Their Eyes".

Davita's prize (Cat C - 13 - 16 years old):
One shoebag (grey) containing various stationary, e.g. highlighters, laser pointers, notebooks, pens, etc.
One notebook (again, of a non-conventional sort)
One slingbag
Certificate as endorsed by the principal

Once again, congratulations to both of you, Era & Davita!

Davita's Poem: The Place I Call Home

Dirtiness is hidden,
To another’s eyes; an experienced
one knows where to look,
slips ticks out like –
a testimony.

Sharp eyes can tell,
little bits of one of a kinds.

The facade that is this city,
though somewhat real
illusion is created,
only one who lives here
can evade.

Though it is true,
one or the other,
the effort cannot be -
denied.
Before long you can’t tell,
anymore...
That the city is that small.

Coarse language and slang,
coat the streets around
la’s and other additions
gives the place a colourful roar.

Different arrangements of colour
dot the eyes, emphasizing
the fact that that’s not just one.
A multitude of personalities and
qualities all shine out
carried on by the years.

Language is all,
mixed and matched
one of a kind, unlike any
in the world.

The weather is never calm,
hotness in coolness
a dizzying streak


Wistfulness has no place
in a world where everything
is straight.
No time for differences;
a far line not to be crossed.

Society is reserved
and never shows it all.

The little place that I call home,
Is quirky and intriguing
A straight laced road to
follow through,
yet imperfection shows.

The little place that I call home.


Erahilwana's Poem: A Nation Stands For All
Small city
surrounded by water
No natural resources
but rich in culture

It was known as Temasek;
a fishing village
Gained independence in 1965;
better known as a Lion City

Ninth of August,
A date stand in its society
Nation standing on its own
Celebrating its victory.

Globalisation is growing
Relationship with neighbours and friends
Is never tense
Placing it among the top ranks.

A young country
On the ascent in its ideas
may the noble aspiration
bring its success

Pledge as a united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
Building a democratic society
Progressing towards happiness together.

Onward Singapore
as its national anthem
Whereby a new spirit unite,
soaring as one

Red symbolises
Universal brotherhood and equality of man
White signifies
Pervading and everlasting purity and virtue

Establishing
Democracy, peace, progress, justice
and equality
As represented by the five stars
On its flag.

* Note: The typography of Erahilwana's poem is not accurately depicted.

Online Literature Lesson for Term 3 Week 9

Wed 20 Aug
1) Go to this link, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Passage_to_India, and read the plot introduction, plot summary, key to chapters, character list and themes.
2) Consider and discuss with your partner how Haresh Sharma made an allusion to this novel by E M Forster through the character, Vinod, and his purpose for doing so.
* Note: Those interested to learn more about this novel may find this link http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/passage useful.
3) Post a comment on your classmate's poem (mysterious poet no. 6) with specific reference to the literary devices used, e.g. rhyme, rhythm, imagery (like simile, metaphor and personification) if applicable.
4) Discussion of the literary devices used by William Wordsworth in "Daffodils".

Homework
5) In preparation for Friday 22 Aug's lesson, I will require you to read "The Second Coming" by William Butler Yeats. Come to class ready to write a critique of this poem. Pay close attention to the effects of its literary devices and consider the possible intention(s) of the poet.

The Second Coming
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all around it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

Shakespeare Scroll Puzzle

By starting at the correct letter in one of the words below, and then taking every third letter, a quotation from one of Shakespeare’s plays may be formed. (*Clue: A 10-word quotation from Shaakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing). Can you figure it out? =)

Mysterious Poet No. 7 - The Last Instalment

Arts Arts on the wall,
Done By students with talent,
After looking at my surrounding,
Students looking in weird way,
Upon looking far out away,
I see buildings surrounding school,
It was in the afternoon,
Sunlight shining through the air,
Thank Goodness sun was present,
I can see things clearly,
Sensing all the dirt around,
Seeing all the footprints,
School was imperfect after all.

A Literary Competition: Your Singapore Through Their Eyes (PROSE/POETRY/PLAY)

Introduction

“Your Singapore Through Their Eyes: A Literary Competition”, or YSTTE, is a student initiative of Nanyang Girls’ High School, under the auspices of the school’s National Education Committee. This writing competition is open to all students between the ages of 7 to 16. Students will be given free rein to pen their literary creations on the theme of “What makes Singapore, Singapore?”.

The aims of this competition are to:
· Allow students to polish their literary skills in creative writing
· Provide young students with the opportunity to look at Singapore in another perspective
· Let these young students realise the uniqueness of Singapore and her culture in their own way
· Promote national identity from an early stage
· Allow students to unreservedly put across their views of Singapore

Judging of Entries
1. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
a. Relevance to community, significance towards national identity (25%)
b. Originality and completeness of storyline (30%)
c. Organisation, development of ideas expressed and usefulness or appropriateness of examples where relevant (25%)
d. Consistency of language usage, proper use of grammar, spelling, punctuation, variety in sentence structure and range of vocabulary. (20%)
2. Top 30 entries will be short-listed to be published in a book anthology ‘Your Singapore through Their Eyes’.
3. The 30 short-listed entries will be submitted to professionally qualified Language Arts teachers for a final round of judging.

Style Guides
1. Entries can be in any form, including prose, poetry or play.
2. They must be typed in:
a. Font type: Arial;
b. Font size: 12 point;
c. 1.5 line spacing;
d. 1 inch margin on all sides and
e. Single sided print on A4 paper

Administrative Procedures
DO:
1. Write the title of your essay at the top right hand corner of each page of your manuscript.
2. State the total number of words written at the end of your manuscript.
3. Number each page.
4. Submit 3 copies of the manuscript if you are sending hard copies.
5. Attach the official application form, properly and completely filled, during submission of manuscript.

More information can be found in http://www.ystte.com/.

Mysterious Poet No.6

Artistic surrounding
Full of displays
Unique artwork
Painted patterns of arts
Humorous in different angles
"What are they doing?" heard a voice from a distance
"No idea. Exploring", came a reply.
Chaotic from a distance
Foggy and raining.
Causing darkness in the art room.

An overdue poem... Mysterious Poet No.5

The school life and a quiet observation

In the little corner,
The still air hangs
Heated with the seasons,
relaxed and a mess.

In that little corner.
I could hear the voices.
loud, soft, indistinguishable.
a low treble tone, a pitched melody resounds.

Melting in, mixing together,
The roar was deafening, yet soft.
In the isolated corner,
where dusty pictures hung,
with dirty benches and not much people around.

Yet in the calm,
there was a sense of chaos,
scraping of chairs and the teacher's shouts,
It was a balance,
a scale - without sound.

It invokes a sense of thoughtfulness,
Even a reluctant curiosity,
As I stare across to the other end,
I saw life around me.

The inquisitive looks, I smile;
were from people all around,
Yes, I was just a lone girl sitting about,
But I knew it was just curiosity,
we all had it - oh well.

The crackling of papers interrupted my thoughts,
As the snuffling of shoes caught my attention,
A flow, a rush,
a flood of students,
The disturbance, the chaos
It was one I would remember.

Upon occasion I witness
disruptive disbehaviour,
A normal occurance to me,
one I, well, hold dear.

It was school life,
present in everyone's memories,
That was part of the charm,
A doorway as always.

While I am sick... (Dedicated to my Lit pupils in 4E2 '08)

dear Lit kids
Fallen ill
I now have

I must go

Leaving you
Far behind
In the cold

Read pages
from 74
to the end
119

Attempt them

Questions on
77 and
78 too

Hop on next
to 82.
And once done...

Fill 96,
97 and
99 with
your brilliance

101
102
Must be done

115
116
119

And that's the
Very end.

Thanks!


P/s: For those who have troubles comprehending the poem above, here's a simpler version. Read from Page 74 to Page 119. Attempt questions on the following pages: 77, 78, 82, 96, 97, 99, 101, 102, 115, 116 and 119.

Reminder: the upcoming Lit CA will test you on To Kill A Mockingbird and the Unseen. =) Good luck! Try to write at least 3 pages with different well-supported points, substantiated with evidence and explanation. Remember to think of the wider implications like themes and impact on society. Impress me! =) Hehehe...

Leap of Faith

A saint once decreed
That a man must agree
To a woman
proposal
today
Give me a sign
Whether to meet me at eight
At the
same place you sit
And fulfill the tradition of february 29

It was a leap of faith.

Mysterious Poet No.4

Given a task
by my teacher
To look at my
surroundings
and jot them down.
I stood there blankly looking at everyone
cos my mind is confused
But, I was surprised
by my friends who
had already started.

Canteen Observation

From far above they look like red ants,
Running and crowding to get their meal.
Getting to the place as soon as they can,
Squeezing themselves in the blazing land.

Tables groaning,
Chairs squeaking.
Munching and giggling,
Cutlery clanking.

Strolling and blocking other's way.
Dragging feet with tired faces.
Crowded at a corner,
Punching messages on the overworked phone.

The atmosphere seems so wild
Smell of meat being fried
Once everyone left,
The place is in empty silence.

They...

As we ventured through
The long journey down
Groups were shattered all over
They started looking and staring
Who are they?
Dressed in bright red uniforms
They started to voice opinions
In different languages, dialect
Malay, Mandarin and more

We
Yes, We
Were no different from 'they'
Dressed in red, speaking different languages
More similarities than difference between
Yes, We
We

They
Yes, They
Friends or Foe?
Hiding their true colours away from us
Friendly yet suspicious
Yes, They
They

Recess

Ring ring the bell rang

finally is their reveal time

where they get access to their world of freedom.

The live of laughter

and the rise in number,

Its a place where it no longer use to be.

Suddenly a bird flew down.

when the lesson is over,

Ring ring the bell rang.

REACTION

Students queuing up for food,
True colours began to reveal.
Air fills with rowdy voices,
Voices as loud as microphones!
Suddenly DM came walking by,
Became the centre of attention,
After minutes of gobbling Junks,
They began crashing their plates.
Leaving behind pieces of crumbs,
Then there's an eerie silence'
After spilt seconds of reaction,
Birds began springing to life!

Canteen's Observations:)

Rushing through
homework
food, people
Everything

People come and go
like the bell
that tells them to do so

the occasional carelessness
wetted the table
with a puddle
of water

Multi-tasking as they eat
messaging
music
Anything

the bell rings
Again
phones, plates, everything
are all kept

the place becomes silent
yet again
waiting for the next crowd
again

Canteen Observation

"RECESS!"

A half day in school has past
Student came crashing down to the canteen,
Gobbling down their food like a hungry ghost.

Smiles and laughter
Each and everyone has a story to share
Taking their turns

A half day in school has past
Stirring kopi,
Enjoying the taste.

Birds chirping,
Singing.
Even they have a story to share.

*******
Just like Annie, this feels so weird!

People Watching

People watching

An undecipherable roar, drowns out
Sounds of voice—
Groups and loners crowd around.
Mixing; mismatching.

My eyes only see, the dull red,
Swirling, twirling and making way—
For figures of personality…

Shyness and arrogance part of it all.
And then a little more…making way for,
Cool guys and not so girls,
Wannabes of fashionable,
Is sometimes a sight to see.

Discussions and silence creates a contrast
Between tables,
For good days and bad days, though—
There is never a total silent day.

Missing words in Chinese fills out
The ones in English,
A colorful mix, I must say.
Sometimes a glimpse of subtle
Flirting… shy smiles and distracted eyes.

Watching…a spill!
And then
'So unglam!' Was said.

Silence commemorated frantic last minute
Studying…shhh! Be quiet! I'm trying to see!

And then those mindless chatting, gossip
Weather reports and trashy news,
All drift through the wind.

Shift, shift…it's getting softer…

Canteen Observation

As the bell rang by,
Sea of students rushing to the counters,
Clanking of plates and bowls could be heard,
Deafening the ears of the others.

While they strutted out of the canteen,
Vast of silence creeping in,
Telling, that its time to leave.
Thus we, sensing the draught of endless waiting.

The remaining seems to be chattering,
Gobbling down their food whilst smiling.
Colossal amount of food,
Disrupting the eyes of the seekers.

Pieces of leftovers marks the end,
As more people fade away from our sight.
Birds flapping their wings,
To sail a flight.

As time goes by, more seemed to clear away
Once again, the tone piped down,
Restoring the actual tranquility of sound.

Hushhh…

(A Valentine Special) Seize the day!

Mumblings and chattering seemed distant
Followed by a series of laughter and smacking sounds on each other shoulders
But some chose not to show
Being alone is what's best

The red sea waves came and go
Frowning or smiling seemed common
The long queues seemed endless
Patience, my friend

The warm weather seemed to choke
Where beads of perspiration trickled down their necks
Tiring faces
Hidden feelings of dread was evident in their speech

Munching
Gobbling
Humongous appetites
Bad habits undisclosed

As the constant ringing was heard
Buzzing off as quick as lightning
Disappearing like a whoosh
Emptiness could be felt instantly

-Azyan Shakespeare

Students running,
Students screaming.
Students talking,
Students eating.

What's the difference?
Between break time and lessons.
Hmm, I wonder.

Laughter during break time,
Silence during lessons.
What makes them shy to speak up?

Canteen and classrooms.
What's the difference?
Aren't they a room with 4 walls too?

--

Sorry if it's a little weird.
It's my first time (?) writing a poem :X

The bell rang
and the next moment,
the canteen was flooded
with a sea of red.

Students and teachers gathered
with their clique,
chatting and laughing away
without any language barriers.

It was a rare sight to come upon
students rushing the pen on their scripts.
For once a day we saw,
smiles on the usual strict teachers' faces.

As time passes by,
the red slowly recedes.
For it was time to go
back to classes for classes.

Valentine's Day special 14/2/2008

Voices receding like the ocean waves
The red sea calms and lazes
Leaving the clanking of metals
Soiled plastic for space battles

Soon as the tide dies
Its child will rise
The bloody scene like history repeats
The lines. The pangs. Impatience defeats.

Gaiety. No defence. Guard is down.
Seldom does one see a frown.
Colour matters not.
Language adulterated in a knot.

Postscript:
And so you see, my dear teen
'tis a typical day in our canteen.

Happy Valentine's Day!
Mrs Sharon Tan

Mysterious Poet No. 3!!!

Noisy classrooms; pandemonium,
Perspiring as they did their work,
Naggy teachers, oh-so-boring!
Frustration.

The countless “hours” doing homework,
Mind-boggling sums, the numerous essays to be written,
The sound of papers “crushed”, time and again.
Anger.

Every second, seems like minutes.
Every minute seems like hours.
The never-ending steps to class,
Laziness.

Everything’s being controlled, every small action counts,
The regular meetings with the teachers,
The occasional sight of the discipline master,
Freaks me out.

What am I to do,
Stuck in this stuffy, confined room,
Hearing to the never-ending lectures,
Like every other day.
Sick!

by ... ? =)

Monday's Class Exercise [2]

'Kampung" by Koh Buck Song

we knew
it wouldn't last,
this peace

that perhaps the chickens
took it best,
perpetually pecking
incurious
oblivious

not knowing how far
this community
of wood and attap
has sent tributaries
from stagnant pools
or drawn water
upriver

but it all moves
all around
whether we stay
or flow

an era,
mirage-like,
comes to pass
even as puddles dry
in noonday sun

Monday's Class Exercise

'East Coast' by Koh Buck Song

a lifetime seems to gape
from which we carved our names
on a coconut tree
now long-lost among the hundreds
shading this haven,
the jack-knife cut
a whisper to the wind,
youth's vandalism of hope

corrected by the
grammar of growing up
but, like a nursery rhyme,
love's basic vocabulary
repeats, still speaks
chapters of comfort,
folios of faith

seen from this shore
here is another snatch of stasis
on the hurtling continuum:
om one side
the shimmer of Shenton Way,
on the other
Changi Airport's shine
and in between
a seamless string
of ships' lamps,
like some Milky Way
of Neptune

imagery of love
is old as the sea
but each time
the metaphors recharge,
renew what they signify
in the abiding language
of the heart

Fictionpress

Here's a very good site to go for poems and works of fiction written by fellow aspiring writers/poets.
here's the link:
http://www.fictionpress.com/

be sure to check it out!

Another Mysterious Poet

The day was hot and warm
the air was still.
Boys and girls,
they made up the student population.
Studying in a stuffy room
They never stop fidgeting.

The noise from the classroom could be heard
as students get bored.
Ignoring the teacher's teaching
some already dozed off.

The exams results were out,
many failed and cried,
"the teacher is lousy, don't know how to teach."

Hold On

A song lyrics by one rock/pop/punk boyband,Good Charlotte,Tittled Hold On. I didnt really copy & paste the lyrics as it is really long especially the chorus,so I cut some of them off.But the main points are pasted here.By the way, I cant seem to put the song up.But nevermine,lyrics counts more than the beats yeah?:]

This world
This world is cold
But you don't
You don't have to go

You're feeling sad,
you're feeling lonely,
and no one seems to care
You're mother's gone
and your father hits you
This pain you cannot bear

But we all bleed the same way as you do
And we all have the same things to go through

Hold on if you feel like letting go
Hold on it gets better than you know

Your days
You say they're way too long
And your nights
You can't sleep at all
Hold on
And you're not sure what you're waiting for, but you don't want to no more
And you're not sure what you're looking for, but you don't want to no more

Hold on if you feel like letting go
Hold on it gets better than you know
Don't stop looking, you're one step closer
Don't stop searching, it's not over
Hold on if you feel like letting go
Hold on it gets better than you know
Hold on

Untitled- Emily Dickinson

To die takes just a little while
They say it doesn't hurt
It's only fainter by degrees
And then its out of sight

A darker Ribbon for a Day
A Crape upon the Hat
And then the pretty sunshine comes
And helps us to forget

The absent mystic creature
That but for love of us
Had gone to sleep that soundest time
Without the weariness

Hey guys. Azyan here. Well, I actually found this poem while I was surfing on the net. Well, enjoy yeah! :)

Highlight of the Week: Somebody's Poem from 2007

Hi, people! Every week, I'll be posting somebody's poem in this blog. There will be a new poem by an unknown poet every week. The original poem is posted as it is. No changes will be made by me unless the poet requests for me to help edit it. Overtime, you guys would probably figure out who the poets are, but let's focus on the poems themselves. =) Do apply the literary devices that you have learnt to better appreciate each poem and comment on its effect on you.



Poem

Arts Arts on the wall,

Done By students with talent,

After looking at my surrounding

Students looking in weird way,

Upon looking far out away,

I see buildings surrounding school,

It was in the afternoon,

Sunlights shining through the air,

Thank Goodness sun was present,

I can see things clearly,

Sensing all the dirt around,

Seeing all the foot prints,

School was unperfect, after all.

The Stage

The mask hides identities,

As on the stage.

He’s glaring out under the façade of a pure white…

Eyes volatile and deceiving.

She enters through the center left,

Eyes puffy and red.

Her mouth is open; no words come forth.

She seems to be fighting an inner battle.

He sees her tears but there’s no emotion,

Just like a glass doll he thought.

Smile, smile he wanted to say,

If only to see the plastic one she showed him.

He knew she wasn’t real,

And she knows it too.

She took one last look at him,

One that said she had more to say.

He turned away from her.

She left the stage, defeated.

Shivers. And falls to the ground.

He’s dying.

Pale blue, a heavy mist.

He’s cold.

But his eyes are still open.

Stood up. Stumbles.

Walks off the stage.

She enters. Looks around for him.

But he’s gone. And she speaks.

Sings, of her and him.

And the dream.

She doesn’t know how to end.

Stops.

Her voice caught, and she fell.

He stands behind the curtain, watching her.

She’s a doll, but she’s also his obsession.

He walks over to her body and picked it up.

His obsession. No matter what…he can’t let go of her.

Couldn’t let go.

End. Scene one. Except that there’s no play.

_____

Another one from me =) Come on peeps, post your stuff! This poem is from quite awhile ago. Anyway, I hope it was good. Smiles!

Betrayal

Hi,Fatinah's here.I just wanted to put up my first attempts on a poem called Betrayal.Feel free to give comments & well,correct my mistakes yeah:]So read & be mesmerised,just joking:D Enjoy!=))

Betrayal

I know you'll always there for me,
Much like how you wanted me
To be
with you
Just with you.

Every single time
You called up to me
We had conversations on phone
Like little cutesy kids,
Having so much fun,so fun..

When you first saw me, you came up to me
Ignoring the others behind you,
Behind you..
Turning back I realised
You were so wrong,really wrong..

I trusted you
But you let it all away
Like pink roses,being thrown away
So how about my feelings
What do you say to me?
To me?
Its not me...

Hurt,pain,betrayal
The feelings I kept inside
Its killing me,can't you hear me?
No you cant,you cant..
Cause you'll never know,
Never asking me
You act like like you know,
But the truth is you don't..
Its all so fake..so fake..

Jealousy aroused you,
You wanted everything I had
Sometimes I gave it to you,
It hurts when you didn't appreciate
You took me for granted
You don't know how I felt,really felt..
The hearts' that had,
stopped beating for you
Replacing with burning fire,
Of anger.

Here I am giving you away,
Forgetting all about you
Just can't stand you,no more.
Can't believe in you anymore,
Emptiness that surrounds me
Reaching the soul of agony
Hatredness just for you,
For you..

So tell me,how I am doing?
So ask me,how do you do?
Right now.
But all I can say is,
Its you...you..
Betraying me.

Bubbles

Bubble specs,

Glasses of colours,

Upside down images,

Weird proportions.

Pop one goes,

Followed by another,

A clean scent fills the room with flowers.

Little Anne screams when the shower turns,

Oh look!

The clock chimes,

5 to nine.

A cloud of steam fogs,

The mirror has seen,

Some blurry view of another’s wink.

The water drains,

Swirling clean.

Bubbles burst, a click within.

Little Anne’s clean and out she goes,

A terry towel held on hold.

Mummy’s here and it’s time for bed,

So tonight’s adventure will be left for another day.

--

Hey it's Davita here, just wanted to post this =)

It seems a little empty up here.

Eye on Nation

my Eye sees
though my mind
seems to drift

my Eye sees
though my ears
are deafened

my Eye sees
though my tongue
speaks different

my Eye sees
what senses
mine defy

my Eye sees
laughter, tears
young and old

my Eye sees
a future
You and I

through this site
let words roll
Speak, my Eyes.


Mrs Sharon Tan, 1/1/2008, 3pm (SG)