In an effort to support Singapore’s nomination to inscribe our Hawker Culture on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Culture Heritage of Humanity, three of our students wrote poems celebrating our Hawker Culture.
| A Hawker Centre It’s a heavenly place, where all food lovers unite. Some may eat there, While some will tabao and eat at night. Stomachs growling like a lion, While waiting in line. But as long as we get our food, it will be all fine. The aroma of local food, like prata and chicken rice. Hovering like a fog in a city, oh, it smells so nice! It doesn’t cost too much for a decent portion but it’s hard to decide what to eat there are just so many options! When you see a tissue packet on a table, please just keep in mind, that seat is choped! So, don’t steal it, and just be kind. By Muhammad Dani Mirza, Class 2/5 |
| Hawker Centre You can See people looking for a place to chope vendors preparing for the hungry lot cleaners cleaning up the mess others made birds on tables, over food they fought. You can Hear gossip amongst close friends choppers delivering loud blows to meat plates and bowls just clinking around fried bananas sizzling from oil’s heat. You can Smell roti prata straight from the pan a hint of coins and cash coconut milk rice steaming around the corner leftovers from the trash You can Taste springy, sauce-soaked egg noodles curry rich in spice the sliced fish in your porridge fruit juice accompanied with ice You can Feel the breeze from the ceiling fans the hard plastic from your chair the appreciation hawker centres as around the world, they are rare By Kristen Teo, Class 2/5 |
| Hawker Nostalgia The familiar smell of oil and chicken, the familiar sounds of the wok in the kitchen, the savory taste of fragrant rice, tissue packets laid side by side. The hot afternoon with no air-conditioning paired with steaming soup from the stalls. Wiping sweat from my face. Delicious sauce with satay. Hawker centres, They have all my favourites A Singapore trademark, not to be forgotten. By Ngu Yi Xuan, Class 2/5 |
Writers by the River 