Dangerous Energy

Montreal 2012

The writer was inspired by famous Canadian poets that she learned about in school to write a coastal poem. The ocean is an important symbol for the writer because her name contains the character for "ocean".

 

Heartbeat

Beaijing 2015

Before going to work in China, the author experienced a particularly dark time in her life, which she only found words to write about several months afterwards. This poem is one of the most personal poems in the collection and talks about the writer's ongoing struggle with despair.

 

Stars

Between San Fransisco and Chicago 2014

This poem was written on a flight at night where the writer saw stars from the windows of the plane. It is rare for the writer to write poems on-the-spot when inspired.

 

The City at Night

Datong 2015

Although the ideas for this poem had been formed years before its conception, the writer only wrote the actual poem when preparing a manuscript for a poetry book competition.

 

The Empty Bus

Markham 2013

The writer was driving a friend home one evening when an empty bus passed her. She could not pinpoint whether it was a moment of sadness, eeriness, or peace. She hopes the poem produces equally ambiguous feelings.

 

The House in Our Heads

Montreal 2011

This poem is about the daydreams we have to escape the pain of reality. The image of the house is supposed to be both fascinating and underhandedly creepy. It deals with the battle between reality and escape.

 

The Monsters Under the Bed

Markham 2013

Whereas "The House in Our Heads" is about positive thoughts clouding reality, this poem is about the negativity and despair that assails us when we are left alone with our thoughts. This poem is also about the ongoing psychological struggles of the writer.

 

The Raven Sings

Markham 2013

As one of the writer's personal favourites in this collection, this poem is both about how negative situations have motivated her to do important things and how emotional turmoil has allowed her to produce better poetry. This poem was the runner-up for the title poem, second to "Re-engineered."