Memories of Galloway

Flashback of my childhood days
In Galloway Road
and Sin Chew Kee Street
Life revolves around
Two rows of prewar brick homes
And a row of half brick half wood
Government quarters
Carefree unhurried days
Every day as predictable
As the next morrow
The cockerel awakens sleepy heads
Clanging of kettle and pots
Coming from the kitchen
Soon the rich aroma
Of freshly brewed coffee
Comes wafting in
To lure us out of bed
Charcoal toasted bread
Spread with butter and sugar
Sometimes treated to kaya
Whilst lunch is prepared
Old men sit in the tiny shack
A coffee shop, reading their papers
A foot on the wooden chair
With an arm resting on the knee
Some with a pipe hanging
Precariously from their lips
Reminiscing the past
School children are seen
Walking home at noon
Faces fllushed from the heat
Glad to be home
A respite from books
Looking forward to the evening
Men would return from work
To meals prepared by the womenfolk
Doors were often left open
Welcoming neighbors and friends
Homes were only locked
When all turn in for the night
To rest and dream
To look forward to another day.