Poetic Musings

A stray orange cat named Gary taught me what the Egyptians knew: cats are earthly manifestations of divine power, and we are merely their servants.

One year after launching The Greyness of Good, here’s what I’ve learned about selling poetry, cutting through the noise, and finally learning to let go.

A tribute to the enduring spirit of Iran through the timeless quatrains of Omar Khayyám, the Astronomer-Poet of Persia.

From East Harlem to hip-hop legend, Tupac Amaru Shakur’s poem about a rose growing from concrete remains a powerful testament to resilience and the human spirit.

A tribute to Al Purdy, Canada’s unofficial poet laureate, who found humour in everyday life, even in the dead of winter.

A Beat poet shaped by prison, mobsters, and Lucky Luciano’s library. How Gregory Corso’s The Happy Birthday of Death transformed one reader’s approach to poetry.

One of my all-time favourite poems by Salvadorean poet Roque Dalton, who died at 39 but left an enduring legacy as one of Latin America’s greatest poets.

Discovering Lu Xun as an English teacher in China, a literary master whose critical poetry shaped culture despite political suppression.

A tribute to Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip, exploring how Canada’s greatest storyteller shaped our national identity through music and poetry.

Chile earned the nickname “Land of Poets” for its rich literary history. From Neruda’s romantic verses to Mistral’s lyrical nature poetry.

A tribute to Leonard Cohen’s profound influence—from his poetry and music to his elegant demeanor, featuring memorable lyrics from his most beloved songs.

From childhood rhymes to Shakespeare’s declarations, love poetry captures every stage of the heart’s journey: declared, committed, renounced, and self-love.