This blog post is part of the Random Sampling Singapore project. The Project aims to sample 100 places on the island of Singapore over a one year period in order to gain an unbiased and holistic view of the city state.

On a December morning near the end of year 2021 myself and writer, IRON-MUM and friend Lauren Moye went to coordinate 41. I don’t want to say too much about this coordinate, only that its close to the Woodlands Checkpoint border. Lauren wrote a wonderful poem about it, which captured this experience in phenomenal way.

To the very north of her border
You can see freedom just a bit ahead
But alas, everything was closed
Multitudinous signs
– do not enter –
they read

Looking in every direction
It was easy to feel trapped, even caged
How could we be so close yet so far
The feelings were overwhelming, enraged.

But even in the darkest of nights
And among her most strict rules to obey
Where there doesn’t seem to be much light,
Nature always finds a way.

For right there, in front of us,
Amid all the oppressive signs
Were beautiful trees standing so tall forming
the most welcoming lines!

The stunning arch of trees that seemed to say welcome to all who come today
Proves to us once again, that nature and love ALWAYS finds a way.

A poignant message from nature’s gateway
Tucked away in the corners of her land to see
the most beautiful form of intractability…
For you cannot suppress the wild, as even in lockdown,
she is free.

By Lauren Moye