by Allan CF Goh
Yeow Tong is the name,
Athletics, his fame.
He raced with the wind
For his famous wins.
He soared in the jumps,
Never mind the bumps.
Came the sun or rain,
On field, he would train.
In rugby, football,
And more, he walked tall.
Now he lies stilled, lamed;
Classmates mourn his name.
May his soul rest in peace,
By God’s side, feeling pleased.
As I sip my Teh Boh
I just have to ask Mr Goh
In all honesty.
Pray tell us who is the late Mr Yeow Tong Koh
That we can all remember him in posterity?
I looked here, I look there,
I looked everywhere.
Where oh where can i find out more
About the late Mr Koh
That he be unknown no more?
A wise advisor in the shadows of the background, may be ?
Every man’s death subtracts from me
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore do not send to ask
For whom the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee!
(Part of a poem by John Donne. It is the custom of certain Christians to toll the ‘knell” – single rings of a church bell at intervals of say, 20 seconds – to signal the death of a christian, and to ask for prayers for the repose of the soul of the deceased).
Since the bell tolls for me, I say to whomsoever you are Mr.Yeow: R.I.P.
R.I.P
“Mr. Koh”