This hardback publication features a collection of almost 40 ekphrastic poems by award-winning scholar, poet and educator Dr. Tan Chee Lay; each composed in response to a different painting by veteran painter Tong Chin Sye. The book is published in conjunction with the exhibition, The Painting Speaks: Paintings by Tong Chin Sye and Poems by Tan Chee Lay at The Arts House from 4-15 April 2018. The ekphrastic poetry by Dr. Tan Chee Lay relates an interesting literary dimension to appreciating Tong Chin Sye's oil and mixed media paintings (completed mostly between the 1980s-2012). Several paintings capture the street scenes and character of Old Singapore as experienced by Tong Chin Sye, before the rapid onslaught of urbanisation redefined the island. Also included are Tong Chin Sye's paintings of portraits and overseas landscapes, similarly enriched by Dr. Tan Chee Lay's poetry.