The Esplanade (reprise)

or How to Properly Enounce the Names of Singapore Econs... er, Icons

I would like some lemonade
Down beside the Esplanade.
Finding it should not be hard
When I'm at the Esplanade.

Perhaps I'll see a gay parade
Or children playing at charades
- I say, 'The immortal Bard'
Is my favourite charade.

But what's this discovery I've made?
Today I've found 'The Esplanade'
Does not rhyme with 'The Old Guard'
- Or does it, does The Esplanade?

Ah, but forget the Es', for now I've, O,
Been to Vivo
City, which rhymes, I'm
Led to believe,
With 'alive' and not 'leave'. Oh
Dear.
- Unless I'm deceived
And it rhymes with precocity,
Does Vivocity

And then there's Singapore's Parliament House
Where Government men and (few) women douse
The flames of Democracy
In un-adulterated Hypocrisy

No crisis of pronunciation here
No way, no FEER.
Just remember to lament
There is no I in this parliament.

Now, for a curly 'un,
Take the venerable Merlion
Its sits atop Sentosa Island
Not to mention the Marina Merlion

One, a powerful laser pointer
For the Powers that Be;
The other pours water
On the meritocra sea

But say it how you will
Keep your nose to the mill
Stone throwers will
Be housed in glass till
They, with broken will
Let their voices be still
And are pronounced ill.

This land was your land,
This land was my land,
From the Singapore harbour
To the Bukit Timah highland,
From the East Coast Park land
To the HDB Heartland,
Now this land is owned by Lee and Lee
This land disowned by you and me
'Cos this land is owned by Lee and Lee...
top  ¶ 11:48 am