A Conversation Between Two Subjects

Montreal 2011

A very early poem in this collection, this is a dialogue between two subjects who serve different kings. Their descriptions show the characteristics of a seemingly powerful yet tyrannical authority versus the wisdom and power of a truly good one.

 

Birds in a Gilded Cage

Markham 2010

This is the earliest written poem in the entire collection. It is a story that describes the sacrifice of following a dream.

 

Confessions of a Dissenting Stoic

Montreal 2011

The writer wrote this poem because she was annoyed by the way people in society are encouraged to be stoic and non-emotional towards the things that they experience. This poems tries to highlight the beauty of being able to feel emotions.

 

Poetry

Montreal 2010

This is a story about how people's impression of poetry hinders their ability to actually receive its meaning. The writer was tired of flowery verses that made readers believe that poetry had to be convoluted and difficult. She wants readers to see that poetry can be a very simple message.

 

The Exile on the Story Plains

Montreal 2011

The writer wrote this poem before she had to enter a situation where she would need to face difficulties that she encountered in the past. It was a poem that helped her prepare herself emotionally.

 

The Newest Soldier

Markham 2013

This poem was written through the perspective of soldier who felt that he had done wrong but who did not have the choice to choose his actions in the first place. It is also her way of describing difficult choices in life and the end of childhood through painful events that lead to maturity.

 

The Purchase

*See "Poems About Faith & Love"

 

The Rider in the Rain

Beijing 2015

The story in this poem was created as the writer walked through the rain in Beijing, imagining something more exciting than what was happening at the moment. The atmosphere was inspired by her love of gothic romance novels.

 

The Song of the Queen

Montreal 2012

The original idea for this poem came from a story idea that the writer had involving the rewriting of Grimm's fairy tales. She aims to create in the queen an image of a strong, motherly figure who stands up for what is right and protects those she loves. It is also a poem of tribute to single mothers everywhere.

 

The Storm

Beijing 2015

The writer loves Edgar Allan Poe's poems and attempted to create her own poem in his style. This one is about a murderous sea captain whose guilt plagues him one night in a storm.

 

Upon the Silent Battlefield

Montreal 2011

This is a story that serves as the writer's rebuttle to the common conception that all human actions are done with selfish intent. She chose to leave the ending ambiguous so that the reader can interpret which interpretation of the battlefield wins. The battlefield is therefore not just a physical one, but also a battlefield for worldviews.