“Bukit Timah Man Files His Property Tax”, Crispin Rodrigues

In a shocking turn of events, the monkey man reveals himself to the media. He wishes to be a public good and admired for his mottled fur and sunken black eyes.

In an interview, the monkey man declares Bukit Timah too expensive and hid to avoid paying taxes, then Mothership ran an article with photographic proof of his existence, and IRAS conquered the hill that evening.

Now the monkey man charges a dollar to shake his hand and two dollars for a photo. For a dance he will take a tenner and he gives you his Instagram handle with links to his merch.

The monkey man sets up a theme park dedicated to his existence. He sees the children laughing on the ferris wheel and the huddled families at the carnival games. He shaves off most of his hair and dons a tie.

In the evening, the monkey man returns to his cave, where he drapes his suit over the mirror, refuting his reflection, before retiring to rest.

/ Crispin Rodrigues is the author of two poetry collections: Pantomime and The Nomad Principle, both published by Math Paper Press. He recently collaborated with poet Marc Nair on Uncanny Yishun, a literary tour of Yishun as part of #BuySingLit 2020. He is currently co-editing an youth-themed poetry anthology and working on his third poetry collection.

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