1. Clothesline Poem by john tiong chunghoo

at the clothesline
is hung the fun
of the whole family

when heaven
affords a blessing -
a breeze -
the clothesline
leads the way
for the whole family
to strut, boggie

sister's lace shawl
goes up in a straight line
turns hand of wind
flutters up, down
a choreographer
pointing out
the way to swing
with hands, legs
and enviable physique

brother's new jeans
well, like him refuses to
go unnoticed

though pegged -
as is mom controlled -
left, right, right, left
the leggy pant turns
one leg ultimately gets
stucked to the line

if only they have
taken off the tack
it (the pant) would have
flown right next door, into
the heart of his fancied girl

dad's tie does a non stop
flight, like his inspired mind
never at a moment, stops working

mom's long skirt, it swings
in the most gracious fashion
as if it owns the whole field

and the bras, wow,
do they look obscene?
not at all, innocently, they fly
a ballet dancer's frilly skirt twirls

granny too joins
in the fiesta of colours,
shape and style
her blouse with
its heavy pads
maintains an edge like her
firm, strong and
unperturbed by the
thermal circus going round her