Lanes Poem by john tiong chunghoo

1960s -
once I walked my country lane
with friends all over
we talked and laughed
played marbles and
shared our love for
movies and songs

1980s -
then everything varnished
as we grew up
we moved to live
in a city where
we chased after
dreams and ambitions

after the day's work
everybody seems to go
their own way
they hid themselves in home
and places so hard
for us to penetrate

we met each other
without really
knowing each other
we laughed and cried to ourselves
in a concrete jungle
that kept our heart so cold

1990s -
these days we walk
the country lanes
of the universe
at the tip of our fingers
sharing heart and thoughts
with people we hardly know
we go to sleep alone
daily wondering who our
friends really are
we seem to have friends
everywhere and nowhere