&Words: Poems Singapore and Beyond
Edwin Thumboo (ed.)
Singapore: Ethos Books, 2010
ISBN: 9789810863210

Anthologies are well-established institutions. They are especially useful in promoting interest in poetry. &Words: Poems Singapore and Beyond attempts to do so through a fresh approach. First, it provides a selection of Singapore poems in English, arranged in four broad sections: Identity, Homeland, Living, Words. Second, the selection includes poems in World Englishes which suggest their wide variety as well as how the shared experience of colonialism and the recovery from it, often generates a number of common responses. They offer opportunities to compare poems. Third, there are translations from Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, reminding readers that Singapore poetry is more than just that in English. Finally a section 'Four Short Forms: Couplet, Haiku, Quatrain, Pantun' to encourage teachers and students to try their hand at writing.

&Words features 170 poems by 73 Singapore poets and 35 overseas poets. It is hoped that this selection will add to the growing interest in Singapore literature, particularly its poetry. This book is also targeted as a supplementary literature text to secondary schools in Singapore.