Dear Ken,

The recent explosive public discussion about the now famous (or infamous) LKY Will has got me thinking:

“The Will that men do lives after them” – Apologies to Shakespeare

When is a Will not a Will?
Even if it’s reshaped seven times seven
Even if lawmakers contest its contents
And break their kinsfolk’s confidence
When all is bound and finished
The Will is seldom the issue
It’s more often what hasn’t been said
That lies in faith, hope and trust
When these have melted away
What sincerity is there, if not betrayal
Ambiguity can be found in every nook and cranny
Many meanings, many its consequences
Oft its money and currency
Seldom preserved is the Will’s honor
To conserve the estate or avoid dishonor
Is the State grander than its collective personae?
Or could the Man stage his Will against the State?

________

Nageswaran
26 June 2017
Ex Singaporean, Now Australian