Edwin Soh TA2D/07

Amid the industries that poison our lands
Amid all those fumes
Amid the wars that ravage our lands
Amid all those flames
Amid the deaths that plagues our lands
Amid all those injustices
Amid the love that purifies our lands
Amid all those hopes
Amid the dreams which shapes our lands
Amid all those landscapes
Let peace reign forever in our lands

Epilogue:

When I first saw this sculpture of a mother lovingly embracing her son in the warmth of the Sun, it brought to my mind how simple happiness can be. It showed to me that happiness derives from the joys of love and hope, uncorrupted by the modern MTV world. I was then reminded of all the conflicts and the problems the world faced, and realized all of these problems could be easily dealt with, if everyone realized how simple happiness is.

Benedict Cho
TA2A/07




Climb on the steps
Reach into the realms of wonder webs -
The pathway to heaven


Epilogue:
I did not go to the botanic gardens so I went around to ask for pictures. As I was browsing through the pictures, I found this to be the most meaningful one. Based on this picture, it gives me a feeling that the steps are leading one to a higher level, as if it is the pathway to heaven. With these steps present in foreground of the nature, it tells me that there seems to be a connection between nature and somewhere beyond the boundary of nature which can be interpreted as the divine presence of heaven. These steps are represented in the picture as stool-like structures and these are made to shape like mushrooms or flowers. Thus, by incorporating the structure of the steps as part of the nature, it actually helps to bridge a gateway to the other far end of the world. Furthermore, the nature-like structure of the steps helps to blend into the background of all the trees and plants, allowing one to view it from a larger and more harmonious perspective.

Lee Dong Ying 2A/07

The above picture displays a pathway flanked on both sides by towering green trees. As seen in the picture, the greenery overshadows all the man-made features, the lamppost looks surprisingly miniature. Down the path, solid brown brick curbs are emplaced on both sides of the path between the trees and the pathway, and on the far end of the path a lone human can be visibly seen. The significance of this scene is of that of the disconnection in man’s relationship with nature. This disconnection is portrayed by the man-made barriers to hinder or completely block off the presence of nature, as seen in the picture, the brick curbs serve to block plants from growing close to the pathway, blocking nature’s interaction with mankind as he isolates himself. Also in this picture, some of the tall trees that have grown over the brick curbs converge over the pathway to provide shade against the sun’s tormenting rays of heat. Even so, these dissent trees are trimmed every now and then to ensure that they do no hinder a man’s path down the pathway. This pathway signifies the pathway of progress, the pathway of time which man travels down every now and then, and throughout this passage of time, nature has consistently provided man with protection against harm, against climate changes. Whilst mankind basks in the rich resources provided by nature, there is little hesitation to destroy something that made him so in the first place.

The above picture shows an extremely weathered mirror which still manages to somewhat serve its purpose to some extent as a mirror as it is able to reflect images of people with some clarity. At the bottom of the mirror where it is badly corroded by moisture contributed by rain, there are some colonies of dark green algae growing. These algae are thriving from the presence of the minerals which comes from the corroded part of the mirror. This displays a unique fusion between urban and nature, of which nature crosses over the boundaries and reclaims a part of what should have been natural. As this is only the initial stage, the mirror is still not completely destroyed by nature, and nature is able to flourish at one corner, but with the passing of time, nature will be able to reclaim whatever it loss without the intervention of mankind to stop it. However, this happens all too slowly, with mankind always being a step ahead of nature, mankind has to learn to balance this relationship, otherwise may soon be too left behind and never be able to reinstate itself to its former glory, or it may be obliterated completely.

The above picture shows a messy disorientated overgrowth of ferns and some trees. While this is seemingly unsightly when contrasted to the straight and rigid structure with uniform green tiled roofs at the background of the picture, it is the way that nature really is without intervention from mankind. This picture was taken at a deserted corner of the Botanic Gardens where lesser visitors would have come across this sight, this overgrowth of nature was just left the way it was, resulting which was that it was isolated from mankind’s definition of beautiful. There is little variety of colours in this picture which consists mostly of varying shades of green, unlike that of the never-ending fields of colourful blooming flowers which usually comes to mind whenever nature is mentioned. The significance of this is to contrast between the true form of nature and the altered form of nature that is catered to the taste of mankind and designed by him. The dominance of this artificial beauty can also be seen in the uniformly designed urban structures of today showing how unappreciative mankind is of nature and its ways.

Zhihong
2A'07

The only lily visible in the small yet spacious pond

When I see this scene, I recalled last time when I was in my grandma’s village when I am about 6 or 7 years old. What I remembered is a pond full of white lilies spreading from the middle to all edges of the pond.
Nature can be imitated but definitely not as perfect as the “true” nature. Much of the plants we see on ponds and the ground are planted from man, and even in the reserve parks in Singapore, most of the canopies are replanted. They may seem to be real to most of us, and this is partially due to not having direct experience from primary forests (untouched). This also shows how men are getting lost touch of true nature. With men losing touch of nature, people eventually get less knowledgeable to the truth of Nature.

That’s me in the picture, walking in the foot reflexology path.
I was walking on this path that is well known for its health care purposes. It brought me back of flashbacks to the white lily. I wonder how this path was firstly invented, I wonder how the people discover the benefits of this, I wonder if back then when man have no shoes, do they walk around on rough ground which are somewhat similar to this. I looked at the some of the worn out pebbles on the path. I again wondered if this is caused by people walking on it, or is it because of nature’s weathering.
Nature’s weather is definitely the most powerful force of nature, all matter found in our world are inevitably affected by weathering. No one can disagree from this. Even though technologies of man have advanced so much, nature is still equally existent as compared to millenniums before.

A bunch of students walking under the shelters of the tall and magnificent trees, the shade that these caring trees give them, “ahh…just so wonderful”
During the trip to the botanic gardens, all of us became tired during the amazing race, walking back from the tanglin zone of the Botanic Gardens, we walked past these trees. The wind that blow from in front and the shelter that the trees provided gave us relieve, and it gave us motivation to carry on.
When I looked at this picture once again, I realise how the trees and plants are so caring to living things, and it reflected on nature being so very important or, in a more materialistic way, very useful to us. Nature serves as air filters to regenerate fresh air to us, without plants, no human can survive once all oxygen is used up. Furthermore, it might actually be true that nature might be more important now as compared to the previous generations, and this being due to the increasing degree of pollutions and harmful emissions. Thus, we must even cherish the tiny bits of nature that is left for us and not destroying them just to suit economic progress.

Lee Dong Ying 2A/07

The above picture displays a pathway flanked on both sides by towering green trees. As seen in the picture, the greenery overshadows all the man-made features, the lamppost looks surprisingly miniature. Down the path, solid brown brick curbs are emplaced on both sides of the path between the trees and the pathway, and on the far end of the path a lone human can be visibly seen. The significance of this scene is of that of the disconnection in man’s relationship with nature. This disconnection is portrayed by the man-made barriers to hinder or completely block off the presence of nature, as seen in the picture, the brick curbs serve to block plants from growing close to the pathway, blocking nature’s interaction with mankind as he isolates himself. Also in this picture, some of the tall trees that have grown over the brick curbs converge over the pathway to provide shade against the sun’s tormenting rays of heat. Even so, these dissent trees are trimmed every now and then to ensure that they do no hinder a man’s path down the pathway. This pathway signifies the pathway of progress, the pathway of time which man travels down every now and then, and throughout this passage of time, nature has consistently provided man with protection against harm, against climate changes. Whilst mankind basks in the rich resources provided by nature, there is little hesitation to destroy something that made him so in the first place.

The above picture shows an extremely weathered mirror which still manages to somewhat serve its purpose to some extent as a mirror as it is able to reflect images of people with some clarity. At the bottom of the mirror where it is badly corroded by moisture contributed by rain, there are some colonies of dark green algae growing. These algae are thriving from the presence of the minerals which comes from the corroded part of the mirror. This displays a unique fusion between urban and nature, of which nature crosses over the boundaries and reclaims a part of what should have been natural. As this is only the initial stage, the mirror is still not completely destroyed by nature, and nature is able to flourish at one corner, but with the passing of time, nature will be able to reclaim whatever it loss without the intervention of mankind to stop it. However, this happens all too slowly, with mankind always being a step ahead of nature, mankind has to learn to balance this relationship, otherwise may soon be too left behind and never be able to reinstate itself to its former glory, or it may be obliterated completely.

The above picture shows a messy disorientated overgrowth of ferns and some trees. While this is seemingly unsightly when contrasted to the straight and rigid structure with uniform green tiled roofs at the background of the picture, it is the way that nature really is without intervention from mankind. This picture was taken at a deserted corner of the Botanic Gardens where lesser visitors would have come across this sight, this overgrowth of nature was just left the way it was, resulting which was that it was isolated from mankind’s definition of beautiful. There is little variety of colours in this picture which consists mostly of varying shades of green, unlike that of the never-ending fields of colourful blooming flowers which usually comes to mind whenever nature is mentioned. The significance of this is to contrast between the true form of nature and the altered form of nature that is catered to the taste of mankind and designed by him. The dominance of this artificial beauty can also be seen in the uniformly designed urban structures of today showing how unappreciative mankind is of nature and its ways.

Chiew Zhi Xin 2A'07

Mother Nature

My Supreme Mother
The bond between you and me
Will never falter

Epilogue:

The picture depicts a mother with her infant and of course, with nature in the background. The first idea that flashed through my mind was to relate nature to mother, just like the woman who takes great care of her child in the picture.

Like a mother who cares for her children, nature is the nurturer of all life living on this planet and provides all the necessities for survival. Hence, we ought to be grateful for mother’s nature unchanging and perpetual showers of love for us. Yet in return for her unconditional love, we can only offer her climate changes, pollutions, ozone depletion, land degradation and murdering her gradually.

With the advancement of humans, we frequently forget our connections with nature and disregard nature. Her offspring are simply too self-centered with improving the quality of their life with the wellbeing of their mother at stake.

Now, our mother nature is still enduring with what her children have done to her.

Our mother is in immense pain. Somebody please do something to save her.

Teo Chin Hwee 2A/07 (Poem)

A Walk In Nature

As I tread on the path,
The endless path that stretches out like eternity,
I embark on a journey
To discover the mysteries and marvels of nature.

Up in the sky,
The Sun shines in grace,
Clouds reveal a joyful face,
Birds soar and twitter in gay.

Down on the ground,
Ants work like workaholics,
Squirrels scamper here and there,
Shed leaves beautify the entire place.

The waterfall pours large squirts of water
That sparkle like gold,
When they beat on the surface of the pool below
They splatter and shower me with hope and joy.

The tall trees grow strong and healthy,
Blossom with flowers as they thrive and live.
The overstretching thick branches shade the grass,
Protect the animals,
Shelter the kids,
And tower over me.

A walk in nature
Unveils the beauty of the world,
Making me realize
Mother Nature is the home-place to everything!

Epilogue:
I was inspired to write this poem the moment I saw the photo of the meandering pathway, when browsing through the collection of photos taken during the trip. I then imagine how one can discover the ‘secrets of nature’ by walking through this pathway, for instance the beautiful waterfall, or perhaps the lively happenings, among living organisms, on the trees. Therefore, this poem presents the beauty of nature. It tells us that Nature is not just about, green trees, pretty flowers and other physical landscapes, but also animals, tiny insects, the sky or even human beings. In fact, Nature is where everything on earth belongs to. Just as how William Wordsworth was inspired by daffodils, I was inspired by the serenity and loveliness all around, in the Botanical Garden. Moreover, this poem portrays how man is connected to the surroundings. Little boys and girls play merrily under the shade of trees; sheets of water gives a sense of coolness which makes people feel refreshed and relaxed. Hence, the poem is written to encourage people to enjoy, appreciate the natural occurrences in Nature and be more passionate to find out more about the wonders of Nature.

Manaswi Singh 2A'07 Poem about Nature

Nature is our salvation
It is the light to our destination
It is the source of everything
And without it, we are nothing

Epilogue:
In this picture, it shows a passageway, where the gateway to the entrance is covered with leaves. At first glance, this would look like an ordinary pathway. However, to me, this picture is depicting that Nature is the reason for beginning of a pathway that Man has created for himself. It is the reason in the first place why Man can progress from a caveman society to a highly technologically advanced society. Without the trees that Nature provides us, we will not have wood for building houses and paper for writing and books. It seems that Nature is the source of Man’s development in life. The tools provided by Nature were the starting blocks to Man’s development to technology. It was the starting point that Man visited before he could continue on to his destination to greater heights. This made me realise that without the tools that Nature offers us, we would not be in the state we currently are. Hence, the poem was written to show the importance of Nature in our daily lives and also to persuade more people to appreciate Nature.

Serene Kwok (Critical Study)

Pathway through nature

This picture depicts lush and thick greenery of trees and shrubs on both sides of the man-made pathway. These trees provide humans with shelter and shade from the blazing sun giving us the much needed cool relief on a hot humid day. These trees if left on their own will be able to grow to it full potential with beautiful thick crowns. Nature has its own beauty and if left alone and untouched, the trees can blossom to it potential magnificence. In this case, the magnificent upright trees spread their crowns out to receive sunlight and at the same time returning the much needed oxygen back to nature, thus, playing an important role in keeping nature in balance.

The picture also depicts a man-made pathway cutting right through the trees. Man is expanding his space and is encroaching into nature. This path symbolizes that man is intruding into nature and is disrupting its peacefulness. This intrusion also symbolize that man is selfish as they do not care about the consequences of their actions and is blinded by his own gains. As urbanization continues, man has an increasing tendency to forget that the Mother Nature is the very reason why are surviving. Mother Nature provides us with the basic necessities that are crucial to our survival; however, we are so blinded by our relentless quest for progress that we gloss over these things as if they are no longer important to us. Not only that, we are also damaging nature in our quest for progress and comfort. However, the picture also shows that the surrounding magnificent trees are making a statement that they are resilient, and continue to survive well, even though man has tempered with it.

In any case, at the rate damage is taking place with urbanization; it is not surprising for one to wonder how long Mother Nature can sustain this damage?

Symbiosis

This picture depicts a flowering climber plant growing on a metal wire fence. As society urbanises it is not possible to leave nature untouched. The metal wire fence is a man-made object that is built on the patch of grass, surrounded by nature. Although this is intruding into nature’s path, the plant growing on it shows that nature has it own way of countering this intrusion and using it to its advantage. In this case, the climber plant is able to climb high above all the other surrounding plants, weeds and grasses which are also competing for sunlight. Therefore, with the metal fence in place, the climber plant can use it as a support to rise above the other plants and flourishes.

This demonstrates that the climber plant is surviving in a symbiotic nature with man. With plenty of sunlight, the plant is growing healthily and beautifully, providing man with a pleasant sight. Man is able to admire the plant’s beauty while unwittingly providing it with an advantage for survival. This therefore shows harmony between man and nature. In this tech-frenzy world, such things are important for us to hang on to in a bid to still be able to connect with nature. I am glad that this harmony can exist, and really hope that it will continue.


Controlling nature’s way

This is a walkway covered with a thick canopy of lush green leaves. Although this structure may not strike you as anything more than a shade for the walkway, it did however catch my attention because it is a not natural. Mother Nature has given us shelter from time immemorial. By creating a shelter using artificial means, man is actually trying to act as Mother Nature. However, man is imperfect in this role no matter how hard he tries to design the walkway to look natural. It is full of imperfections and the outcome looks contorted.

In the picture, the plants are cut and trimmed to fashion into a shelter supported by metal poles at the sides. Also, it is trimmed so that it will look neat and tidy, man’s definition of a ‘pleasing sight’ to visitors who pass by or use the shelter. However, this action is actually controlling nature’s way. Man tries to create something similar to what Mother Nature has provided us with; however, it is done through what man defines as beauty. Man tries to use plants instead of artificial materials, which shows attempts by man to be close to nature. However, in so doing, it shows man has, over the years, distant himself away from nature, as they cannot tell the difference between natural beauty and artificial beauty.

Serene Kwok

2A/07

Melvin Lim 2A'07

This is picture is of a path of which its sides are surrounded by two glass barrier which prevent plants from growing into the path, and atop both is a roof. The creation of this path is similar to how of which urban landscapes are created. First, a portion of nature is destroyed to make way for the construction of the landscape. The landscape which is created along with the plantation of certain plants to beautify the landscape has measures put in place to ensure that these plants do not invade the space that man has set aside for himself. Man then does his part to protect nature by placing protective measures in place as seen in this picture where the roof provides shelter for these plants that cannot get too much water. Sadly, the shelter is more for the protection of the space man has set aside for himself rather than that of nature. Similarly, man prioritizes himself over nature. The green cactus structures along the glass barrier portray how man tries to have man made structures blend in with nature. Nature and man can coexist peacefully as seen in this picture. Though man may destroy nature, man does try to make up for it by having nature as part of the created landscape and having these landscapes to blend well with nature as well as providing protection. However this nature set in the urban landscape is but a tamed and controlled version as seen in how man has prevented the growth of the plants by setting up barriers.



This image is of a wooden bench under the shade of the plants growing behind it, and in front of it a gravel road. The bench though man made is composed of wood, a product of nature, thus able to blend well with the surrounding undergrowth while standing out. It shows how urban landscape can be merged with nature. The color of the cement tiles is similar to that of the wooden bench, suggesting that man tries to ensure the man made structures created in nature are able to blend well and not be too ostentatious. The road represents an urban landscape whereas the undergrowth represents nature. Man extends his land by constructing structures in natural landscape. In the process, nature is destroyed as seen in the barren dirt that lies between the bench and the road. Although man destroys nature, nature still provides support for man as seen in the image where the plants behind the bench provide shade from the sun. Ultimately, this picture shows how man and nature can be in harmony with nature looking out for man despite the damages done to it.



This last picture is one of a shelter formed by creepers growing above brick supports. Shelters are places of protection where people to go to hide from unpleasant weather such as the scorching sun as seen in the picture above or rain. As mentioned above, nature has dual sides, one that is protective and another that is destructive. It is nice to know that man can be in harmony with the "friendly" side of nature, as seen in the picture where the creepers provide shelter from the heat of the day. The physical composition of this shelter is of both natural and artificial elements, creepers and brick supports respectively, showing the balance and harmony that exist between nature and urban landscapes. Under certain weather conditions, both humans and animals alike will come to seek shelter under such structure. Together, man and nature is more than capable of providing a place of solace for all.

Melvin Lim
2A'07

Jonathan Lee 2A/07 Creative Writing: Nature Poetry

Poem:
As strong as a piece of metal that will never break.
It stands there straight as can be,
Only moving when strong winds run by.Its petals are as pink as the color of strawberry ice cream.The stem is as green as string beans.Its thorns are sharp like the blade of a knife,
Looking threatening as they stick out of the stem.

Prolouge:
Flowers are a wonderful way to brighten our day. I was particularly inspired by Emily Dickinson because in almost all her poetry she uses nature. She uses many literary techniques in her poems to show her interpretations of nature and the world around her. Some themes that triggered my reaction about this poem is seeing nature as an inspiration. I was able to make use of the poetic techniques that I have learned in class like personification, giving human qualities to non human objects as well as similes. Some issues are the disconnection from nature and destruction of nature. Although nature can be seen everywhere around us, but we are still disconnected from nature. Because of technology that had changed our mindset, hence we tend to see nature being more important. I strongly feel that we need to take time off to appreciate the wonders of nature as well as conserving nature.

Jonathan Lee

TA 2A/07

Trinda Anne Ting

Here. Then. Now

Here,

the light warms us

the leaves caress us softly

the trees shade us from the tormenting sun

Then,

we did not know

we passed by them with strides

unseeingly, unknowingly, ignorantly

Now,

time frozen

a moment suspended

as cold as the north wind blows

Epilogue:

From this photograph, the saying 'A picture tells a thousand words' is aptly portrayed. We walk along this empty street, almost forgetting that other than us, Nature has withstood the test of time longer than we have. Because of our ego and our opinion that we are 'better' than other organisms, we forget that without Nature and her resources, we would not even be surviving and flourishing. We seem to forget that we were once a part of Nature, and she provides the basic necessities by which we live, such as air to breathe and water to drink. The poem by Mark O'Conner, 'Earth', served as an inspiration to me while writing this poem about our ignorance to what Nature has provided for us. The Earth truly is 'the face on which [we] trample on' and 'the bones by which [we] live'.

Elis Lee 2A/07

Nature’s Pathway

I wonder what they’d do,
If one day they realize, that you,
Although apparently plain and simple,
Are the key to what’s left of Nature’s Beauty.

Epilogue:

At first glance, the scene depicted in the picture merely resembled an ordinary nature reserve, with little maintenance. The stairway, which has obviously been around for quite a few years and littered with dried leaves, seems nowhere near unique. However, upon further examination, it dawned on me that although advancement of science and technology has greatly benefited mankind, it has compromised nature’s presence. Furthermore, it cannot effectively replace what nature can provide for humanity.

Today, much of nature’s beautiful landscape has been destroyed to make room for man-made infrastructure. However, nature, or what is left of it, still provides man with a haven away from their hectic urban lifestyles. Despite this, just as how I thought this picture seemed “ordinary” when I first saw it, I wonder how many people pass by nature and do not even notice her at all.

This old, plain and simple stairway literally exposes more of nature to us. It inspired me to question, and imagine, how people would react should they be able to look pass it’s, and Nature’s, simplistic appearance.

Vivian Foo 2A/07

Uncertainty
(haiku)

Resting or waiting?
Salient blue amidst the greens --
I wonder, where're you?

Flutters.

'Nature' is not all about grass and flowers, but animals too. The bird was what which caught my eye, it sits in the center of the picture -- center of attraction, standing out from amidst the greenery.

At first, when I stumbled upon the bird, I was afraid I would not be able to take a picture of it in time. However, the bird stay perched on the tree branch until I left. It kept looking around, as though it was searching for something. In certain ways, its behaviour was similar to Man. It reminded me of Man, who is always in search of something; in search of knowledge of his environment; in search of answers to questions to satisfy his curiosity; in search of what deem as beyond his limits, his boundaries.Unfortunately, the bird appears to be resting too. Like humans, taking a break from their long and hectic lifestyle, needing to stop and breathe at times.

It takes off, back to whatever it was doing, bearing an uncanny resemblance to humans -- Man resumes his life.


Vivian Foo
2A'07

Sheryl Woo--Critical Study

People are enjoying themselves in nature, at the Botanic Gardens. Everyone is in a shady and cool spot, beneath the canopy of trees. The main colour of the picture is green. The trees are of different shades, the grass as well, because of the shadow of the trees above it. The people seem to blend into the natural surroundings, looking peaceful and serene. The trees provide shade to people and looking at greenery makes people feel more relaxed. Green creates feelings of comfort, laziness, relaxation, calmness. Some attribute this to its connection with nature and our natural feelings of affiliation with the natural world when experiencing the colour green. When one looks up into the continuous sky, one may feel a little melancholy as the sky looks rather gloomy. However, when you look back down around you, the greenery makes one feel carefree and joyful again. This shows the harmony of man and nature, both man and nature can live together in peace if we want to. In this picture, man is not destroying nature. Man is enjoying himself in nature, sitting with their friends, or sitting alone, admiring their surroundings. Therefore, man and nature are in harmony.

The pinkish flowers have fallen onto the ground. They have served their purpose of decorating the tree. Now they are scattered on the ground, making the green grass and brown soil seem dotted with pink flowers. The flowers which were growing on the tree, alive and in full bloom have now fallen to the ground. Many of these fallen flowers have been trampled on; some have withered and would be swept up or become nutrients for the soil. This shows that man is taking control over nature. Nature—the fallen flowers—is under our feet. To me, this signifies that human beings are destroying nature. Singapore does not have many nature reserves and the Botanic Garden is one of the few nature places we have left. In the world today, man has destroyed nature by deforestation—Amazon forest, and by burning the trees. All these were done to clear the land for farming, building modern structures such as high-rise buildings and cities. People should not continue this exploitation of nature and start cherishing nature.

This path is surrounded by plants on both sides. Even though this path is man-made, it is made of natural materials—wooden planks and some nails to join the smooth planks into a path. The wooden planks that make up the path are from trees. Therefore, the man-made path is in a way, natural. Thus, this man-made path blends into the natural surroundings. Along both sides of the path, lies two continuous rows of shrubs, with pink five-petal flowers growing at the edge of the branches. The different plants have leaves of different shades of green. Even so, different plants planted together do not look messy. This shows the beauty of nature.
The main hues of this picture are green and brown. Green and brown compliment each other and are the colours of nature—leaves and grass are green, trunks, and branches are brown. This picture signifies that nature and man-made things are in unity. Man-made and natural things do complement each other.

Sheryl Woo

2A'07

Justina Leong, 2D/07

A perpetual lifetime of loneliness
Hardened my soul, devoid from all feeling
Standing silently, waiting, watching,
Disregarding all broken promises

Children, lovers, people and creatures of all kinds
Seek refuge, comfort, and serenity in me
Sadness; anger; hurt, Joy; love; peace
Unbeknown to them, so transparent in their minds

At long last, their hearts grow quiet, they depart
Thoughtlessly leaving behind their irksome footprints
Memories of which stubbornly fade into imprints
Which I, at all costs, endeavor to discard

Were it the leaves, which wither at my feet
Were it the roses, which wilt and lose all tones
To permit my soul and heart to be set into stone
To be so at ease when I’m isolated and solitary
To be so at ease, only when I’m alone

Epilogue:

At first glance, this picture looks incredibly serene and romantic; the newly married couple joyfully and peacefully strolling in the bottom left hand corner, the romantic setting of the gazebo in the background, the indescribably beautiful clear blue sky and the presence of nature surrounding this entire would-be happy scene.

However, upon closer inspection, I found the gazebo to look extremely lonely and somewhat out of place in this picture. It emits a gloomy and depressing vibe as compared to the radiant joyous mood the sky, trees, greenery and the couple shared. However, the gazebo still looked as though it was a natural component of the picture and not as though it was superimposed into it.

Finally, after some scrutinizing, I felt that the gazebo seemed to be at ease with its loneliness and exclusion, and it began to dawn on me that perhaps this picture would not have been the same without its distinctive and separate quality.

-Justina Leong, 2D/07

Pearly Koh 2A/07

Grass

A limerick

In the open field

Grass - But it is inconsequential

Strifled with, trampled on

Indulging in a little melancholy

...the rhythm of foot steps.

Epilogue

For most people, the first things that come to mind when "Nature" is mentioned are dainty flowers and oak trees. Of course, that includes me. But what caught my eye during the trip to Botanic Gardens was not the sweet chirpings of birds or the swaying of leaves to the wind; It was the grass I trampled underfoot.

Neglected by mankind, grass is actually the foundation for an all-inspiring Nature. Without grass, there will be no meadows nor pastures. Ultimately, grass is the primary factor contributing to Nature.

Sadly, the truth remains the way it is: Man would never stop to admire grass; it is simply not worthy of their time. Perhaps it is about time we stopped to take a look at what we have been missing out on. The beauty of grass is something no blossom can replace.

Humans are but weak and complacent creatures. Suppose we apply the never-dying spirit of grass to every day activities, wouldn't our lives be more fulfilling? Indeed, this is one of the many things we ought to learn from common flora. Often, we fail to employ the "never say die" mentality due to complacency. As such, we end up blaming everything but ourselves for our failure. What we do not realise, is that only people with true determination and perseverence shall be the last ones standing.

Personally, I feel that Nature has much more to teach us than what ordinary textbooks can provide. It is through Nature that we see and understand our real selves. Nature not only beautifies our environment, but it also takes on the role of a mentor in our lives.

When I looked down on the grass I stepped on mercilessly, I was inspired to write this poem. Why are humans destroying Nature? Why bring harm to such a beautiful and enriching entity? These were what came across my mind... I just had to pen them down.

Pearly Koh

TA 2A/07

Chew Xuan Zheng

The beauty of the trees, the softness of the breeze,
the fragrance of the grass, speak to me.

The system of the roots, the serenity of the sky,
the rustle of the leaves, speak to me.

The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the air,
the dewdrop on the flower, speak to me.

The vastness of the fields, the grandeur of the fallen petals, the trail of the sun,
and the life that never goes away, they speak to me

And my heart soars.

Epilogue:

I was nonchalantly following the group and strolling around the Botanic Gardens, barely taking in the sights and sounds for it was, to me, just another boring follow-the-route trail around a nature park; and the weather just had to be, of all, scorching. The very moment i stumbled upon this spectacular sight, however, my indifference to the surroundings melted away, leaving me speechless in awe. The countless petals strewn across the grass from the branches above, the fields which seemed to stretch on forever and the sky so bright yet calm at the same time completed this masterpiece of a picture. It was almost as if everything: the trees, the grass, the complicated mass of roots, were whispering to me. I did not have much time to pause to admire this scene, as my group members hurried me on, so I merely took a picture of it to capture its beauty. I guess thats just how the world is, always rushing, just as my group was rushing to complete the task at hand; that no one really had the time to just sit themselves down, look at nature, and bask themselves in all its serenity. Humankind has taken away so much of nature that we once had lived so harmoniously with, but no one seems to notice. Through this short poem of mine, I aim to remind the readers of the calm and happiness the various mute forms of nature brings about in one's heart.

'It Was no Simple Journey''

The lucid waters show
Brown fallen leaves, sank to the below

Green leaves, white flowers
Floating on the surface where
The silhouette of the tall-standing trees are reflected
Three distinct layers, leads me to think
The cycle of life

Nature’s first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold

Time wears of her strength
The leaves, the flowers fall
The fallen,
No longer green and vibrant,
Now brown and decayed
It was no simple journey.


The group was walking along the pavement, and I chanced upon this sight. It may not being as beautiful as the fully bloomed flowers, as impressive as the tall stable trees, or even as unique as the carved pavements, however, it gave me the inspiration to write this poem. The poem describes what is seen in the picture; the reflection, the floating flowers and leaves, as well as the decayed leaves. The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this sight was the ‘stages in life’. The three distinct layers are the representative of how, a fully grown tree would eventually drop its flowers and leaves; of which, would soon sink, and decay. It is just that in life, when certain events and processes are inevitable. The process may be tough, but it is certainly an achievement, and thus, ‘it was no simple journey’.


--Ho Ann Yi
TA 2A 07

The Lake (ip yintong 2a07)

A surface so still
Shimmering, sparkling, dazzling,
Reflecting what lies above it,
Showing what lies below it,

Gaze into the crystal clear mirror,
And all one can see is
Nothing but one’s soul,
A blissful feeling felt.

So tranquil, so peaceful
in deep seclusion,
a getaway
from the perfect world gone wrong.

Thousands of wavelets,
Carrying a lone flower across,
Oh how the eternal flow of ripples,
Reminds one of the never-ending journeys in life.

The peaceful hush,
Yet one feels the solitude,
When one gazes into
Thy waters so clear.

Epilogue
When I was looking through the pictures of nature I took at botanic gardens, I came across three pictures that inspired me to write the poem. One showed the reflection of the sun on the surface of the water, the other showed the pure white flower that was floating on the still surface and the last one showed the serenity of the lake
As we’re only allowed to use a picture, I chose the one which showed the calm surface of the lake, with the sun’s reflection in it. When I look at this picture, portraying nature as calm and peaceful, I remember how much more stunning it looks in real life, and I remember how something stirred inside me at that time– the scenery so stunning that I was awestruck on the spot, while standing right beside the lake.
Pictures, portraying nature so beautifully, are really hard to come by nowadays, given how man have been taking nature for granted and exploiting nature. The seas and rivers we see normally are polluted to the extent that when one looks into it, one sees nothing on the surface, except for plastic bags and cans and pollutants. Many turn away in disgust, however, we forget that it is us who have done this to nature.

Hence, as portrayed in the pictures above, nature can be beautiful, if we give it a chance to.

Ryan Lee 2D/07

All My Friends Are Dead

Not entirely undisturbed it swam
Over and under, water and land
This great black bird
With wings of might
Ink black feathers
Dark as night

Swan Lake
The sign said
But where were the swans?
They must all be dead.

A single lonesome swan
Was all there was left.
Perhaps the sign
Was put up in jest?

Walking down the trail, I was delighted to see a sign declaring that “Swan Lake” was up ahead. Excited, I ran to the lake, and was immediately overwhelmed by the sight of six gigantic bronze swans, seemingly flying off the surface of the lake, immortalized in all their glory. However, upon further examination, the lake held no more evidence of birdlike life, except for one sad character. He was sitting by the side of the lake, preening himself. He looked unhappy, even melancholic, as if mourning the death of a loved one. He was even dressed in the black of a funeral! Perhaps the cause was bird flu?

I was intrigued that Swan Lake had only one swan. I was expecting a whole lakeful of them, instead of one companionless bird. However, the swan’s grace, despite its solitude, inspired me to write this poem. Wish you all the best, Swan Dude.

Caleb Loei 2D/07: Heart Breaker

Heart Breaker

Staring beyond blank reflections,
Gazing at the bright blue sky,
She seemed to imply,
That indeed, still lingers deep underlying affections.

Lush greenery that never fears rejection,
Soothing waters which never runs dry,
Never thought of any objections,
She eagerly awaits his reply.

Despite his imperfections,
She never thought of saying good bye,
Time seemed to whiz by.
However, she did not fit into his aspirations,
In his life, she was just a section

Epilogue:
This poem was inspired by this picture as well as the works of William Wordsworth, in particular "The World Is Too Much With Us". This picture shows a couple who is eagerly awaiting their wedding day to arrive and is keeping memories of these happy times through the use of photography. In the long run, these happy times may not last. However, one could not dispute that indeed this two people share a mystic bond chosen by destiny. It struck me that Mother Nature also shares this mystic bond with man. We are linked whether we like it or not.

I wrote this poem to remind ordinary citizens about the ever-waiting presence of Mother Nature. Like a bride, eagerly waiting for her groom to arrive, similarly, Mother Nature is waiting for us to return to her side. The “he” is this poem refers to Mankind while the “she” refers to Mother Nature. Man used to depend on nature for everything he needed to survive. From shelter to food to medicine, the list is endless. However, with the introduction of technology in our lives, it has become a love triangle. As Wordsworth implies in his poem, Man has abandoned nature for their own personal goals. Both technology and nature are vying for our attention. It has come to a state where we forgot our first love. Indeed as man strives to improve our own standard of living, we seem to cast away nature. Therefore, through this poem, I hope to urge all readers to embrace nature as our “wife” once again and love and take care of her just as we did in the past.

This poem is in a French form of poetry called a rondel. It is a variation of a rondeau and it consists of two quatrains followed by a quintet. There are 13 lines in total. The rhyming scheme is in the form of ABBA, ABAB, ABBAA.

Caleb Loei 2D/07

Angeline Kang 2B/07

Tired, she sat on the bench by the tree,

Her shoulders bending down like the vines on it.

It was this moment when she felt so free,

Like this was where she finally fit.

One with nature, she gazed up to the sky,

Looking at its majestic crown of leaves.

Nothing to distract her, nothing passed by,

So unlike the world, filled with her pet peeves.

After a while, she contemplated going back,

Work was piling up, she had so much to do.

But she loved nature, she wanted to stay.

Her mind was at ease on the bench by the tree.

Epilogue:

When I passed by this part of the Botanic Gardens, I was drawn to the simplicity of the spot. There were 2 wooden benches, cleverly situated under a tree, such that it was nicely shaded by the tree's huge crown of leaves. The vines that hung down from the branches added an element of fantasy to it, like as if one was entering a different world. I loved how it felt so secluded and set apart from the rest of the Botanic Gardens, where it "decorated" in earthly tones (muddy brown, dark green), so unlike the rest of the Gardens which was mostly bright and lively colours.

Sitting on the bench, I felt a sense of serenity, to be so surrounded by nature. In this fast-paced modern society, it is hard to take a moment out to just sit down & relax, to think about the simple things in life and appreciate the beauty of nature. I felt that this little spot was the embodiment of all that I mentioned. As I sat on the bench, I finally understood why the Romantic poets loved nature so much. I loved how nature had this calming effect on me. And even though this spot had very plain and dull tones, I felt that it was very beautiful, very simple and easy on the eye.

As such, I was inspired to write this poem about this girl who is so bobbed down by work and one day, leaves home to go to a park. It is then that she realises how much she loves nature and does not want to go back. Nature has always been there since the start of the world, we need to learn to love, respect and care for it.

:)Angeline

Goh Wei Xiang 2B/07

The trees swayed seemingly encouraging

The coward in me slowly retreating

Mustered the courage to croak the words

Will you marry me my love?

Birds chirped melodiously afterwards

Even the sitting white little dove

Our eyes met for a split second

You nodded and teardrops filled

Ecstasy was an understatement

The ring was testament to my faith

Our hearts start to palpitate

Because you’ve found your lifetime mate

Epilogue:

I was inspired to write this poem when I saw a couple taking wedding photos in the picturesque botanic gardens. The expressions on their faces bore pure happiness; they looked as if they were in their own world, immersed in the company of each other. I believe that love is one of the ultimate joys of the world. The joy of finding your partner for life must surely be one of extreme ecstasy. The couple was holding their hands, embracing in the photos and gazing in each other eyes oblivious to the stares of the park-goers. They had eyes only for each other.

After that, I thought about how the guy must have felt when he was proposing to her. Even the toughest guys have trouble proposing to the woman of their dreams. This poem was written to express the process of proposing. It was most certainly nerve-wrecking.

I wish the couple all the best in their marriage life and may their love flow like a waterfall meandering through the rocks which may be the trials and tribulations they face together.

Justin Lee 2B/07

Bleached white branches of an old dead tree,
Still clawing at the sky, still looking up high
Still mocking death, still trying to be.

The pale flaked skin of a tired old man,
Still fighting off the grave,
Still trying to live, still trying to stand with the help from a friend.

Bones and Skin; the tree and the man,
Both of them, and all of us,
Still clinging to life, still gripping my hand.

Epilogue:

This old bonsai tree is being compared to an old man, who is hanging on to that last bit of life in which he is being given much support by his close friend before death would finally conquer him. The bleached trunk of this bonsai tree was the muse of this simple poem.

Ultimately, what a man needs is a Friend. A Friend who is there for you when you need him at your most. Only Nature could bring us a friend like that. Nature never goes away, it remains where it is all the time. Be it rain or shine, Nature will always be there.

Hence, When i saw that this bleached and flaking tree, all i could think of was to give back when Nature has gave to me - a friend.

As illustrated in the picture, my palm is wrapped around the trunk of the tree, giving it support and that little glimpse of hope for the aged and dying bonsai tree to live on.

Be it supporting it for an extra minute, or even an extra second, at least i can tell myself "Hey, I did what I could for a friend and I did it with the best ability that i was able to.''

I believe that friends and family are the driving force that keeps you moving in life. Without them, I would be nothing.

Given the opportunity now, I would like to thank all my friends and Mother Nature who have been there for me and I would like to say that I will be there for all of you guys too, now and always.

Kenny Chen Han Teng 2C/ 07

INVASIONIN OFNATURE

Past.
Present.
The uncertain future.
It’s just you and me in this world
I will follow you, no matter who you are.
I will follow you, no matter where you are.
I will follow you, and try to befriend you at all means.

In this long winding path, where the end lies uncertain and unseen,
I will accompany you, with glimpse of light shining your path bright.
I will accompany you, with beautiful sights and scents along the way.
I will accompany you, ignoring this grayish path that gets between us.
Lighten you up at times.
Mock at you at times.
Cry with you at times.

........................I am MOTHER NATURE………………..

Epilogue
The above tree-shaped poem is based on Shape poetry, also known as Concrete poetry. The title was constructed in such a way that the fonts of certain letters are emphasised, in this case, the letters "N" and "O" are emphasised to signify the importance of not invading Mother Nature.
Majestic trees and flowers accompanied me while I was walking along this concrete path at the Botanical Gardens. It was the faint scent of fragrance that led me to think deeply on how to portray Nature and acts of Man in a picture. As such, I waited for the clouds to give way to the Sun so that the Sun’s rays can “flow” onto the path through the canopy of the trees causing the sunlight to look as if it was scattered on the path, guiding my way, where the end of this path is unknown to me. To me, there are 2 types of invasions to nature. On the concrete path, there were a few ferns and young plants growing on it, creating cracks, this signifies the “invasion of Nature”. Another type would be the “invasion in Nature”, signifying clearing how humans often go over our natural boundaries. Take for example, the pollutions that we have caused due to irresponsible acts of humans; disposing of chemicals illegally, increasing our carbon footprint, burning of forests to clear land, and many more.
Thus, through this poem, I would like to express to the readers that Nature is a wild thing. Whatever happens, it will always come back. However, even if it comes back, there are scars left sometimes and those will probably last forever.

------------------------------------------------------------------

I thought it might be fun to have a short haiku on the insects seen at the Botanical Gardens, as we do not often take notice of the little things which are also part of nature.

Good day, dragonfly,

my special helicopter.

I am a rich man.

*

Right, dear damselfly,

do not trust superheroes.

Hide! It's Batman.

Teo Wan En 2D'07

Haiku- forest

Deep in the forest
There but not seen the wind weeps
Time to start anew.


Epilogue:

This picture was taken along the rainforest trail in the botanic gardens. As we were along the rainforest trail, it was quiet and calm. It bought me great joy and I felt at ease throughout the whole rainforest trail. I felt that this is related to Man and Nature which we learnt about in term 1. We are supposed to be in tune with nature, united as one with nature, showing due respect to nature.

However, we are now concerned only about our materialistic needs and see little use of nature. Thus, we do not conserve or protect out environment, and instead, continue with our exploitation of nature like deforestation and pollution. We should not continue down this destructive path and instead, feel remorseful and start reflecting about how we have been abusing and exploiting nature.

The nature is ours to possess, cherish, and protect, and not to pollute, exploit, nor neglect. It’s time to start anew and start being environmental friendly and play a part for our nature.

By: Teo Wan En
2D'07

Limeng 2C/07

The Relationship Which Never Ends

Day by day, we grow closer.
Love between us shall never waver.
Within thy presence I feel comfort.
But lost not for this is without effort.

In thy shadow I shall be,
Steal not twine limelight I will,
Only the stars in my dreams I shall be,
For never can I outshine thee.

Jealousy soon begins to grow.
For longer the distance between us grows.
Never will I sink that low.
To thy to ever rule the show.

Around us the commoners are.
But yet still we look like we’re from afar.
Similar to them we are not,
Closer to each other definitely not.

Forever in the shadow I shall be.
Faithful I shall be to thee.
Helping thee through every tunnel.
Hiding my emotions I will do.

Friendship still lasts forever more,
For love for thee is always strong.
Jealousy shall not waver my heart,
Love you as much since the start.


Epilogue:

The poem was inspired by the picture posted above; at first glance the focus of the picture would be on the main yellow flower. However when I took a second look I noticed that there was another one behind it. The poem describes the “relationship” of the two flowers. One flower is in the limelight while the other is in the shadow. This provoked my thought and made me realise how similar nature and man are, for a relationship to work there must always be one who is willing to be self sacrificial so that it can grow. The flowers are also surrounded by leaves (commoners) and despite large quantity; they still cannot hide or blend in. Thus they become something like roses among the thorns which is often applicable to us as often in life despite us trying to fit in we are all unique in a certain way and will shine and stand out no matter what.

Lim Xin Yi 2D'07

Nature’s Orchard Road

Walking round’ nature’s orchard road,

Under a vast canopy of trees

Where the path of men and nature meet

Footprints, lilies, orchids and garden tools

The harmonious music of nature thrives



Walking round’ nature’s orchard road

As much as the alluring sight beholds

It is strictly reserved for viewing pleasure

Those precious beauties can’t be priced tag glued

For buying away the priceless experience is just too cruel

Epilogue:

What first sparked me to write this poem was the sight of the ‘orchard road’ sign in botanical gardens. (I do not have a photo of the 'orchard road' sign) I felt that walking down the paths of botanical gardens was like window shopping in orchard road. However instead of enjoying life in one of Singapore most crowded and vibrant streets, we are instead enjoying the smoothing and peaceful images that nature brings to us. While walking, I also saw many combinations of both man and nature. In today’s society, it is very hard to find combinations of both men and nature and not to say places of nature that are untouched by men. However, I feel that the way nature and men coexist in the botanical gardens a very consoling sight. This is because in society today, there is no way that men can survive without technology even if he/she is not willingly. However just making the effort of letting nature coexist with men is really enough to let ourselves to be more in touch with nature and really the minimal that we can do to try and preserve mother nature as we improve our standards of living. Lastly, the second stanza of the poem is talking about nature being priceless. This is also a difference I felt between orchard road and botanical gardens. We cannot buy nature out of botanical gardens like how we buy things from orchard road. Nature is far too precious to be bought and no matter how small each member of is, they each worth what money cannot buy. For example, once nature is destroyed, no matter how much money we are willingly to pay to buy it back will be of no use already.

Darren Lim 2B'07

Of Unimaginable Wonder

As we stop to admire the beauty of life
As we watch flowers bloom from buds
Feelings from within comes alive
As we go dwell deeper into our hearts

Still no one can phantom such awesome wonder
One of great might and power
Stop for awhile and ponder
Of to whom it glowers

A look of indisputable radiance
Brightens this gloomy world
A world with unsolvable tensions
And quarrels and conflicts in the whirl

Through each petal showers pulchritudinous
As it livens a dampen mood
Away with morose, away with ruefulness
Be gone with insufferable disputes

Giving thanks for such gloriousness
As each reaches for the heavens

As we take one last glance
Creation of such craftsmanship
Of such unique balance
Where colours, feelings all run deep

Epilogue:
My inspiration for this poem was these set of unique flowers. When i first saw them, i thought they particularly stood out from the other flowers as they grew in clusters and bore such a radiant shade of red. Also, upon first sight, the first thought was that they were extending their reach up to the heavens, as if glorifying the wonders of God's mighty creation. The poem depicts the blissfulness of dwelling in the beauty of God's creation and as we admire his power and wonder and shows how by dwelling in such beauty we are able to escape from the world's pains and negativity. How simple colours could paint the emotions in our heart and how these emotions make us who we are. The poet who probably inspired me would be Samuel Taylor Coleridge for he too glorifies God for the beauty and sacredness of nature. Similarly, nature to him too is a form of escapism from the real world.

Denise Wong, 2B/07

Waltz; tango; dance into the light
Listen to the mechanized robots squall
Fight for your freedom from the darkening night

The gods are furious at Mother Nature’s plight
Unleashed, their wrath resemble a concrete wall
Waltz; tango; dance into the light

Why compromise your pride
Instead let’s all stand proud and tall
Fight for your freedom from the darkening night

Time to take up the fight
No longer an option to stall
Waltz; tango; dance into the light

Let’s show Mankind our might
No more leeway to bend over and fall
Fight for your freedom from the darkening night

By the horizons so near yet far in our sight
Let respect and liberation be achieved by one and all
Waltz; tango; dance into the light
Fight for your freedom from the darkening night

Epilogue:

This poem was inspired by the photo posted above, as I was surprised to see these plants growing in such orderly and tall rows. At first glance, this reminded me of a SAF military division – the plants seemed so rigid, so firm, much like a division of soldiers poised and ready for their colonel’s command. In this case, I used the photo as a comparison to Mother Nature getting ready her ‘army’ to defend themselves against further commercialization and to start fighting back against mankind, and not let Man trample all over her carelessly and thoughtlessly.

I knew a wise man,

he once said to me,

don't let them go.

The shady forest,

the dew kissed grass,

the bright blue sky.

This April dream,
this refreshing memory
my long awaited reprieve

Through each passing day,

I live my life away,

Just like my April dream.

There’s a warm wind that blows,

and warms my very soul,

rejuvenating my spirits.

I want to go,

where it always shines,

just like in my dreams.

Where skies of blue,

and little children play

their whole lives away.

Follow your heart’s voice,

dare to dream and live big,
Don’t be afraid of the unknown.

Run into the wilderness,

away with the wind that blows.

To the beauty that only shows,

in my lovely April dream.

‘Don’t let them go’,
The wise man said
‘I won’t I swear’
My heartfelt promise.

And so I urge you all,
Listen to this wise man
Dream, and dream BIG
Live, and live life to the fullest!

Epilogue:

This tiny ant that was crawling about on the leaves of the plant gave me such hope, it had fallen from one of the higher branches of the plant, yet it got up and continued its journey, apparently unharmed. The ant is such a tiny creature, yet it has the courage to venture out into the unknown world. I admire their bravery, they live out their short lives to the fullest, making the best out of what they have. In this poem, the speaker meets a wise man who tells him to hold on to his dreams and fulfill them, not to leave them stagnant till they disappear. I believe that everyone should dare to dream and dare to live, after all, we only live life once. As the singer Queen once sang, ‘This world has only one sweet moment set aside for us.’

Denise Wong, 2B/07