The Planners by Boey Kim Cheng is a poem denouncing the continual urbanization of cities by people. The poet notes that the erection of well-designed structures has carved out a large chunk of land. Humans seem less concerned with the imminent consequences of urbanization. Architects of buildings consider every aspect of structural design not to leave out any space. The permutation of buildings, which overlaps one another, is done perfectly to avoid any flaws. The urban planners of cities ignore the negative effects of overcrowded living conditions caused by urbanization.
The buildings are aligned with roads that are connected by the overpass and fly-over bridges hanging at the mercy of mathematics. The speaker uses sarcasm to implore builders to consider their actions. The use of metaphor and personification to allude that the skies surrenders show the obstinacy and pigheadedness of the planners. The fixture of shining materials on buildings makes people forget history. The poet contrasts the situation with becoming unconscious. The bureaucracy exercised by city planners may lead the world to dystopia someday.
The poet argues that the buildings may be appealing and attractive at the moment, but no one knows what the future holds. The planners do not calculate future plans the way they calculate building plans. From the poem, it is clear that the speaker is venting his frustration on planners who perfectly draft the plan of erecting shiny and beautiful structures without considering the potential consequences.
