Hey, PTK babies!! Kelly & Larissa here. So, we had so much fun ping-ponging poetry back and forth in May with our first squatter, Wilhelmina, (who may or may not still be hanging out in the basement here) we decided to bring in another resident for the month of November! Introducing: WINIFRED WONG!!! (better known as Winnie to us 😘)

PTK: Hiiii!! Who are you?

Winnie: Heya! Call me Winnie! 31/F from Singapore. I like to play video games and sing out loud in the shower. Oh, and write poetry of course. Thanks for having me here, PTK babes! 😘

PTK: Describe yourself at age 13.

Winnie: I was an elementary school grad. I was focused on doing well in school so I remember being stressed out about my grades and going for extra lessons after school. The secondary school I was in was also pretty totalitarian, which probably is the root of my anxiety. Back then we could choose an activity apart from our academic studies. I chose to join the National Cadet Corps, so I have some basic military experience (how to starch a uniform, how to use an M16). Not to upstage the men in Singapore (who have to go through a 2 year mandatory conscription) of course.

PTK: What does “un-precious poetry” mean to you?

Winnie: I just… let the voice in my head out on the page. Sometimes it says the darnedest things. Like, I don’t know. Getting your period on a Flixbus. Wondering why bubble tea toppings are called toppings when they mostly sink anyway. And sometimes they’re even put into the cup first. Or that there are rather gorgeous looking people in the restaurant window I’m passing. Things like that.

PTK: Marry, Fuck, Kill - Elon Musk, Kris Jenner, King Charles III

Winnie: I would marry Kris Jenner cos I bet she comes home with cool stories everyday. Elon Musk might be good for a shag but I couldn’t put up with his ego long-term. That leaves one option and I won’t say it just in case my name appears on a hit-list somewhere. My reasons are: I might have colonial trauma, I’m not quite sure what the monarchy does, and also I’d be curious as to the kind of world order if it went away.

Excited for the month ahead!! Also shout out to @iamnewintown who was the previous squatter, and with whom I share the same initials - surely this must mean we’re sworn sisters 👯

Lollll we promise the main criteria for being a PTK squatter isn’t having the initials “W.W.”, it just happened that wayy!! Anyway, we’re so excited to get going with Winnie. She’ll be kicking it off with the first poem this week, so prepare your inboxes. In the meantime, you can follow her on instagram here. 💌