A belated episode for Singapore's 60th National Day, a poem by Edwin Nadason Thumboo (b. 1933), poet and academic who is regarded as one of the pioneers of English literature in Singapore. "Ulysses by the Merlion" comes from a collection of poems by the same name, published in 1979. The poet adopts the persona of a well-travelled Ulysses encountering the Merlion, a half-fish, half-lion creature, and the people of Singapore. 

Dedicated to Dr Maurice Baker, Thumboo's teacher and mentor, the poem is now on permanent display at the Merlion Park. When it was unveiled, Thumboo described the poem to be "doubly significant for me. Firstly, it is about Singapore, and gives a sense of the making of the city. Secondly, it is for my teacher, who like all good teachers is a maker of young minds. Good teachers hopefully produce good teachers in turn; they are part of the continuity of life." 

Dr Baker's response: "The poem describes how Singaporeans have striven for racial harmony and, though of different cultures, have sought compromise. [...] The Merlion is a symbol of the aspirations of Singaporeans to have a new, spiritual image of themselves, beyond material success."

It is debatable if the Merlion holds such lofty significance to Singaporeans, but surely, were Ulysses were to encounter the Merlion today, he would be puzzled, charmed by this unlikely creature.