The Poet and the Night Train
He writes Singapore’s first book-length poem, then vanishes from history. Discover how the mystery of the missing poet was solved.
This documentary examines the tragic life of the mysterious poet Francis P. Ng, who wrote Singapore’s first book-length poem, F.M.S.R., and then disappeared during World War II. Researcher Eriko Ogihara-Schuck recounts the almost miraculous way she was able to confirm his fate and to connect with a living relative of his – a niece. Singaporean poets Alvin Pang and Robert Yeo also weigh in on the significance of Francis P. Ng’s work.
This moving documentary is based on two BiblioAsia essays: “On the Trail of Francis P. Ng” (Jan–Mar 2015) and “Ties that Bind: The Story of Two Brother Poets” (Jan–Mar 2017). The poem “F.M.S.R.” can be found in the book Finding Francis: A Poetic Adventure.
Related Articles
On the Trail of Francis P. Ng
In her effort to republish one of our unknown literary treasures, Dr Eriko Ogihara-Schuck tracks down the elusive Francis P. Ng, author of possibly the first notable work of poetry in English by a Singapore writer.
Ties that Bind: The Story of Two Brother Poets
An American Studies scholar unravels a decades-old mystery surrounding a bone fragment and uncovers a brotherly bond from beyond the grave. Michelle Heng has the story.
The Nature of Poetry: An Odyssey Across Times
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The Pulse of Malayan Literature
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First Words: Women Poets from Singapore
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Related Books
Francis P. Ng, F.M.S.R.: A Poem (London: Author H Stockwell, 1937).
Eriko Ogihara-Schuck and Anne Teo, eds., Finding Francis: A Poetic Adventure (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2015).
Angelia Poon, Philip Holden and Shirley Geok-lin Lim, eds., Writing Singapore: An Historical Anthology of Singapore Literature (Singapore: NUS Press; National Arts Council Singapore, 2009)
Teo Kah Leng, I Found a Bone and Other Poems (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2016).
University of Malaya, The Register of Graduates (Singapore: University of Malaya, 1963).