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DAI PAI DONGS REMEMBERED
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by Jeanine Chuen 6A |
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A dai pai dong stands Solitaire at a side street. Here families converge Young and old connect Eating their fill, sipping milk tea. A weekly ritual, a way of life.
Out of sight A lone chef toils Intent, sweating, smoking Brewing, sizzling, stir frying Serving up congee, fried rice, noodles too. Egg tarts, toasts, roasts, and thick stew.
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It’s a place where we can all be ourselves And you have no call to prove yourself. It’s where a tight budget’s not a glitch, Where dishes come quick and flavours are rich. It’s where you feel you’re right at home, And where local culture makes us whole.
Who would have thought They’re now few and far between, What with rents soaring sky-high And fast-food chains in over-supply? Soon, they’ll be another folk story. But rest assured, they’re in our collective memory.
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