The soldier is a truely enlightening poem about war as i gives a different view to war. Normally, war poems are about the emotional trauma that one has felt after the war has ended.

Reflections:

I think that in Singapore, national service is compulsory for Singaporeans. Singapore is a small country with limited human resources. It would be hard for us to maintain a professional army as it is costly and with the high standards or living, most men would rather not. However, there is a need for an army as Singapore is vulnerable and thus may be prone to attacks if it ever happens.

It is hard to say if i would have such patriotism for Singapore. War changes people's views and one might turn into a hero or a coward. The mentally strong would be able to go through war and fight for a cause, e.g. protecting their country. I would like to perceive me as being patriotic. Our country has provided us a home to live in, an environment to grow in, thus we should be able to give back to our country. Even though Singapore is small and vulnerable, we should give it our best shot to protect it, even though odds are against us. I would like to think that if i ever die, i would not die in regret. Living a life of regret is both torturous mentally and emotionally, thinking that you could have done more, yet you did not do it. I would give my life for the country that has nurtures, educated and taught me for i will never be able to repay what she has given to me.

Finally, i would like to post a poem about the same theme.

O Captain My Captain
a poem by Walt Whitman

O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up--for you the flag is flung for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Many people say this poem can stur up different emotions from happiness to sadness. Please post your views!

Spud: Learning to fly

This is the third book of the series and It describes the third year that John Milton in an elite school in South Africa. Alot has happened since the second book. John's emotionally unstable girlfriend is now very religious and has found a boyfriend that is almost twice her age. Both of them go to a youth church and thats how they met. John was deeply hurt by it and is very down, yet many great things happened in this story. It was the third year and every third year are pushing for prefect, yet John is the only one taking it easy. He has finally came to the fact that his deceased friend "gecko" is gone and never going to come back, yet John would learn from his carefree attitude towards pushing for prefect. John's arch enemy, Pike, is now a prefect and is torturing everyone in their house, so the crazy eight devise a plan to demote him. They caught his drinking and smoking in his room and report to their housemaster, "Viking". At the third term, John and many of his friends were successfully selected for the school play at a elite girls-only college and Would spend the whole term there. Two girls, Penny and Brenda, were the only girls allowed in the boys' house as they would be their guides. In the end, the play ended spectacularly and there were many praises from newspapers. Meanwhile back at school, only "Garlic" was left in the hostel and he was constantly watched by the disciplinary master and was caught on many occasions going nightswimming. Eventually, he was put on final warning. Simon left school for half a year to go to England to play for a prestige criket club and returned and lied to everyone that he had parent issues, eventually he told them about the truth and they believed him. Although John was not eager to be a prefect, he was able to be selected as a prefect for his helpful attitude and his all rounded achievements. His father has decided to open a pub with his best mate Frank and business is booming. He is able to afford a Mercedes Benz and now fits in to every parent to school. He has also cut his drinking and has made a positive turn in his life. His family is now happy as every and they are well. Sometimes, John misses the family's green station wagon and how deranged and dysfunctional his family used to be.

The story ends very abruptly as the last day of school was the last day John wrote on his diary. This book is better that the second book as it is more interesting and fascinating. The element of change is good and I am eagerly anticipating for the release of the fourth and final book.

Spud: the madness continues (sequel)

The story is about John Milton's second year at an elite boys only private school. He has the nickname of Spud as he is the only boy in his dorm not to hit puberty yet.John in general dislikes his life, because of the major embarrassment he gets from having slightly deranged parents, a senile grandmother and being part of one of the most notorious gangs in the school. The main story revolves around John and the crazy 8 gang doing crazy things in school. Henry Barker "Gecko" dies in the end of the first book and John is deeply hurt that one of his best friends is gone. The crazy 8 is thus left with 7 members and they came up with the final decision to accept Roger the cat into the crazy 8. John is very pessimistic about many aspects of his life, especially his Johnness and has a low self-esteem when confronting personal matters, such as his shaky relationship with his girlfriend, Mermaid. In the early part of the book, he breaks up with her and John could not get over it. He still misses her and often cycles to her house during the holidays to get a glimpse of her. He was horrified to see her with a blonde surfer and she picking up smoking. In the end, they get back together. There was also a girl Amanda, a student of St Catherine that had come to know John last year. John has a crush on her and describes her as Julia Roberts. They have an on and off relationship due to her having a boyfriend and she being 2 years older that John.

Compared to the previous book, this book lacks imagination and excitement. The previous book was about John’s crazy first year, and the second book seems to be less crazy and radical as the formal. However, there are some exciting parts such as the crazy 8 sneaking around school and bullying first year juniors. This book also taps into one’s heart as you tend to feel sad alongside John’s misfortunes. I felt that many of these things that are described are also around me and I get a sense of familiarity when reading it.

Overall, I would give this book a 9 out of 10 for it being a book that one can feel for, and for its vivid descriptions of characters.