'The Planners' by Boey Kim Cheng - Elson

They plan. They build. All spaces are gridded,

filled with permutations of possibilities.

The buildings are in alignment with the roads

which meet at desired points
linked by bridges all hang
in
 the grace of mathematics.

They build and will not stop.

Even the sea draws back
and the skies surrender.



They erase the flaws,
the blemishes of the past, knock off

useless blocks with dental dexterity.

All gaps are plugged

with gleaming gold.
The country wears perfect rows

of shining teeth.

Anaesthesia, amnesia, hypnosis.

They have the means.

The have it all so it will not hurt,
so history is new again.
The piling will not stop.

The drilling goes right through
the fossils of last century.


But my heart would not bleed
poetry. Not a single drop
to stain the blueprint
of our past's tomorrow.

Level: Sec 4 Express/ Sec 5 Normal academic

'The Planners' by Boey Kim Cheng can be used to teach students about imagery and to identify the different type of imagery. It is about how city planners map, design, and change a city's landscape so efficiently for the state's progress that they remove useless relics of the past to make way for modernization.

I feel that this poem should be taught to students who are more aware of the social and modern progress that are happening around them, and how this act of progress has done away with our historical and cultural relics. Therefore, I feel that the older and (hopefully) more mature students will be able to relate to this better.


1) What do you think is the poem about. Why do you think so?

This question is asked to first check the students' understand of the poem, for them to see if their interpretations differ from one another, and to find out why are the interpretations different (cultural schema).

This question will also help them identify the theme in the poem.

2) What are the kind of imagery used in this poem?

Students should not only be able to identify what imagery is, but also to learn how to categories the group of imagery used.

"permutations", "gridded". "alignment" - mathematical imagery
"gaps are plugged", "erase the flaws", "the blemish" - dental imagery

This skill will be useful for them when they write their essays.

3) What do you think is the tone/voice in the poem? How do you know?

The tone in the poem is very important because it allows readers to identify the poet's stand of the issues mentioned/concealed in the poem. Yet, very often, students are unable to identify the tone of the poem. Therefore, by asking this question, not only can the teacher check if students are able to identify tone, students can also learn from others who are able to identify tone, and to give valid evidence to support their claims.

4) "Anaesthesia, amnesia, hypnosis". What do these terms mean? What do you think the poet is trying to suggest here?


This question is asked to give an example to help students learn how to identify the tone in the poem. It highlight just how much the city planners will do to push for the city's advancement. The fact that the phrase suggests numbing and brain-washing also helps students to see what the persona/poet's feels about the process of physical change, thus contributing to the tone of the persona/poet.