The National Library

A red-bricked building that is not ordinary

It exists no more on this precious city land

You are looking at the Singapore National Library

that gave up its ghost for a new plan

that materialised into a super modern building

14 storeys high, spacious and glam

In the sixties my parents took me there

and the first book I borrowed was Greek Mythology

Zeus and his gang on Mt Olympus

Hercules and the Golden fleece story

My love for books was sparked by these ancients

and a mum who knew the power that's in a library

Yesterday for the first time I took my mother

now in her late seventies and a frail old lady

to visit the new National Library that is like no other

Time reverses roles and I felt really happy

that I was finally able to return her favour