the world tilts, and the new year is on the equator. i have never been this close to fireworks before; from our porch we watch the colours arc above hougang field not 200m away. i have always found fireworks to be thrilling but sad too, those trailing, fading sparks (suddenly remembering now that p once compared the fading of sparks to the fading of genius (i think he was in a keatsian mood that day.)

i had not realised how powerful they were until now, but this close, for the first time i felt menaced by their force, the violence implied.

overhead, the birds were fleeing.