All the poet can do today is warn. That is why true poets must be truthful. -Wilfried Owen What a month it has been. We may dedicate one month to celebrating poets and poetry, but for poets, as Mary Oliver puts it, “poetry is a way of life.” What does it mean for poetry toContinue reading “Poetry lives on”
Tag Archives: writing
Another year, another journey
When I was in school, I was the kid all the teachers described as “bright, has potential, but doesn’t apply herself.” They looked at me in disbelief– they knew I was capable, but I chose to rebel, to fight, to resist, to choose NOT to do the work. I thought I had moved beyond thisContinue reading “Another year, another journey”
Recover
It’s very easy and sometimes preferred to pretend that we’re brave and fearless, especially in an instagrammable world that values perfect squares of perfect lives. There are no squares big enough to encompass this experience, this pain, this journey, this fear. I had the messy job of confronting my fear. Confront, not conquer. I had to show up *while* being afraid.
Standing on Ice
If there’s one thing October taught me, it’s that I may feel lonely, but I’m never alone. From wandering through unfamiliar woods in Lynn Canyon to hiking on a bed of litterfall in Algonquin Park, nature has reminded me that I am not that important, and I am not unimportant either. I am part ofContinue reading “Standing on Ice”
Questions for Ancestors
At the end of every school year, there is a twinge of bittersweet joy that rises up in my heart. Through my work as an artist-educator, I have the privilege and honour to witness students explore the creative process and share their artistic projects and ideas. This year, I encouraged students to exploreContinue reading “Questions for Ancestors”
Late Summer Lessons
August. A month of transition. A month of humid, hazy days, late night thunderstorms, and the whisper of autumn around the corner. We’re soaking up every ounce of sunlight we can– dipping our warm bodies into cool lakes and sparkling pools, fanning ourselves on our decks and porches, filling and refilling glasses ofContinue reading “Late Summer Lessons”
Letting Go in June
When one jumps over the edge, one is bound to land somewhere. -D. H. Lawrence Earlier this week, I had to say goodbye to my childhood home. We packed boxes of precious books, piled our car with pillows, wrapped heirlooms and crystals, and left some things behind– including our lovely garden. It’s been difficultContinue reading “Letting Go in June”
Manifesting in May
National Poetry Month was a busy one– filled with writing workshops, performances, collaborations, and new poems. In my workshop, “Road Maps to the Heart” I encouraged participants to explore the terrain of their own hearts, and they created their own (stunning!) heart maps. I also spent quite a bit of time working on ghazals for TheContinue reading “Manifesting in May”
The Ghazal Project: Week Three & Four
The Ghazal Project: Week Three & Four The Ghazal Project, my ambitious write-one-ghazal-a-week project, was going quite well until the third week. I found out that one of my first poetry mentors, Rishma Dunlop, passed away, and I couldn’t bring myself to write a ghazal. I tried, but the words didn’t hold the weight thatContinue reading “The Ghazal Project: Week Three & Four”
The Ghazal Project: Week Two
This week’s prompt was “What does spring taste like”, and wow, did I get some delicious responses! From ‘black coffee’ to ‘ ice melting into a mountain stream’, the poetic possibilities were endless. And yet, I had to pick only one. Lemon, mint and ginger. Healing that stings and soothes. It reminds me ofContinue reading “The Ghazal Project: Week Two”
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