Heartlands Book Club is pleased to invite poet Mr Takalah Tan Kok Liang for their book discussion in July.
A victim of a horrific accident at his prime of his career and personal life - Mr Takalah had to relearn everything again due to the severe brain injury.
His poems are raw truths and deep reflection of life values and how to cherish them. One of his poems "Against the Wind" was included in a USA compilation of best poems of 2003.
A short snippet of this poem:
Against the wind, older, but no wiser. I still find myself inextricably running against the wind.
Whilst it could have been easier
Rowing with the tide.

Something within me beckons!
"Do it otherwise!"
Defying instincts, &
Rejecting the norms.
Living my Life on its edge,
I refuse to conform.

Perhaps one day
when my time is done.
Laid down to oblivion,
my life has just begun!
Mr Takalah's courage to overcome his ordeal resulted in him changing his name to Takalah or in Malay "Cannot lose". A Mediacorp documentary featured his life under the "Amazing Courage" series.