The Planners.

The poem "The Planners" is penned by Singapore-born Australian Poet Boey Kim Cheng. The poet expresses profound sadness witnessing the natural destruction caused by modernization.

The poem has strange stanza structure three stanza of different size, first has nine lines, second has ten and the last stanza consists of only four lines. The has the universal appeal as it's applicable to any other city in the world which has undergone the modernization.

As the poem is written in free verse, it lacks rhyming words. However, Boey Kim Cheng employs various figures of speech, including alliteration, paradox, oxymoron, metaphor, and personification, to enhance its appeal.

The central theme of the poem revolves around modernization and the detrimental impact it has on nature. The poet illustrates the insatiable greed for modernization, resulting in the replacement of natural environments with concrete jungles. He critiques the bureaucrats responsible for planning such construction projects, highlighting their disregard for biodiversity and the loss of originality.

The language of the poem is both appealing and accessible. Boey Kim Cheng utilizes repetition to evoke emotions among readers, and although the language is figurative, it remains easy to understand.

Ultimately, the poem serves as a critique of modernism, emphasizing the need to preserve our heritage in the face of progress. It delivers a poignant message urging us to safeguard our cultural and natural heritage at all costs.

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