Kopitiam

Sit with a polystyrene cup
of kopi-o and kaya toast.

Watch the auntie sweat and smile
as she struts between
plastic chairs, tables —
coin clinking furiously.

Her incredible memory —
threads that link faces, names
in this clean neon
makan place.

Ah Peh says,
Last time got more butter.

By Lau Peet Meng

Quarterly Literary Review Singapore Vol. 1 No. 4 (2002)