On his hopes for the book, he expressed, “One key aim would be to foster a deeper conversation between the various linguistic traditions of Singapore, as well as between art and poetry. It was vital not to categorise the poems mechanically into linguistic silos; instead they are woven into a sequence of their own, as part of a multilingual, multigenerational and multicultural exploration of the dimensions of love and life. Hence, one artist—the distinguished Singapore pioneer-painter Lim Cheng Hoe—has inspired poems in all four of Singapore’s official languages, by poets like Kamaria Buang, Tan Chee Lay, Swetha Senthilkumar, and Heng Siok Tian. Also, we invited many of the poets featured in the anthology to video-record themselves reciting their poems (in English or their mother tongues or both), and these videos have been shared on social media, offering a valuable auditory dimension to readers' experiences.”

He also added, “In troubled times, it’s tempting to assume that poetry and art are mere luxuries, but what this pandemic has shown is that we need both art and poetry more than ever before. They illuminate what it means to be human. As Prof Thumboo commented, these works “offer a timely reminder about the miracle of being alive”. We need art and poetry as poignant reminders for us to treasure our everyday miracles. Stunning images of love and life can be found in lines of verse, or in incandescent, infinitesimal brushstrokes, no matter how subtle. As our language becomes more attuned to new possibilities of living, poetry and the arts can play a powerful role in transforming our attitudes towards life itself.”

Wai Kit shared that he learnt the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to learning at USP. This is the spirit reflected in the book.