Poems about migration and change

Many of Theophilus Kwek's poems in his new book, Moving House, are based on real events

Moving House by Theophilus Kwek (top) is dedicated to "those who build our houses and those who believe in keeping them open".
Moving House by Theophilus Kwek (above) is dedicated to "those who build our houses and those who believe in keeping them open". PHOTOS: CARCANET PRESS, COURTESY OF THEOPHILUS KWEK
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

On a November night five years ago, Singaporean poet Theophilus Kwek was walking back to his room in Oxford University when a car drove up. Some youths leaned out of the car window and struck him in the face with a metal rod, breaking his glasses.

"As they drove past, they yelled something which I couldn't quite make out at the time," recalls Kwek, now 26.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 04, 2020, with the headline Poems about migration and change. Subscribe