The Writer

Haidan Dong (董海丹） was born in Beijing and moved to Canada at the age of four. She began writing poems when she was ten years old and was inspired by the poems of other writers and prompted by her grade five teacher.

Haidan has worked as a fastfood server, research assistant, tutor, and teacher. She now works as a technician, retail associate, and small business owner.

Haidan has many hobbies that seem somewhat unrelated. She likes to sew, play softball, draw comics, and hang out with friends She also has a slight addiction to wandering alone through urban and rural places.

She loves family, friends, and God.

Writer's Statement of Intent

Sometimes when I write a poem, I edit it so many times that the final product contains very little of my original, authentic emotions.

This is because ultimately, my emotions aren't that important when things need to be done in this world.

I don't want my poems to just be a mode of expression.

I want them to do instead of be.

I want them to make people think in a new way about something.

I want them to have the precision of a surgical knife that cuts a reader at the exact point on their heart that makes them feel a certain something.

I don't delude myself into thinking that my poetry can change the world.

But I think maybe they can instill a thought into a mind.

Reader, I want my poems to do something for you.