Confession and Apology

Montreal 2012

This poem is about health problems in society and how solving one can lead to another. This was written during a time when the writer was taking a health and development course at university. She questions which is sadder: the fact that money can buy health, or the fact that it can't.

 

Cream of the Crop

Montreal 2012

In this ironic poem that criticizes the arrogance of post-secondary education, the writer uses some not-so-great writing skills to poke fun of the self-congratulating institution that she attend.

 

Insomnia

Markham 2013

Inspired by sleepless nights, this poem aims to expand the readers' minds to grasp what is happening beyond the quiet night and the insomnia that should be felt by the world because of the human suffering happening globally.

 

Remember the Weak

Montreal 2012

Tired of hearing praises of the strong, the writer decided to write this poem to show the underhand power that weak people have in society and how the strong must secretly depend on them. She does not want to say "we are strong too," but rather, "we don't need to be strong to overcome your power."

 

Skyscraper

Markham 2013

After months of rejections in her job hunt, the writer wrote this poem as a way of expressing that although corporations often act like they have great power, they are not even able to achieve something simple, and all their destroying can not bring them any closer to the things that nature can achieve.

 

The Gun and His Brother

Beijing 2015

This poem was written shortly after the Charlie Hebdo shooting and is inspired (but not necessarily based on) the last moments of Ahmed Merabet. It is also the writer's response to the "I am Charlie" slogan.

 

We Wait

Montreal 2012

This poem is intentionally ambiguous about who the speaker is. The implication is that it could be from any member of society who has been oppressed. It was written during the writer's university days as her reaction to learning about her society.

 

When We Find the Cure for Cancer

Markham 2014

Inspired by a new ultra-expensive cancer medication that came out during this time, this poem attempts to shed light on the inequality in society that would hinder the accessibility of treatments. The writer wants readers to consider how finding a cure would not magically solve the cancer problem on its own, and advocates for more equality in the accessibility of health.