Magic Mirror on the wall…please don’t let Disney copyright strike me — My mother’s Disney+ subscription that she got for free with a new phone is soon running out. It is therefore incumbent upon me to watch as many old Disney movies as I can. This is partly because I am a snob and I dislike modern entertainment. I also hate live-action…

Why the difference is crucial — Let’s play a fun guessing game that I like to call… hedonism versus spirituality! The rules are the game are very simple. Take an action that you think aligns with what us Westerners like to call ‘LivINg iN the mOMeNT’. Typically it involves many of the five senses. Write these…

Can you be both? A case study in poets — Introduction For this epiphany (and subsequent rumination), I have the poets to thank. Not because of their poetry, but just how terrible their lives were. Enticed by Amazon’s Early Access Sale for Prime members, I bought a copy of A Little History of Poetry by John Carey (an Emeritus Professor at…

One layer at a time — I know that the title alone will cause some controversy. I know the eagle-eyed lot of you will see the ‘a’ at the end of the line and think, “Ha! Gotcha.” Therefore, before I leave my spelling to be pulled apart like the cheese in the thumbnail, I will present…

That will make you feel warm — You may not think that 8th Century Chinese poetry is what will really hit the spot this holiday season — but trust me — these poems will feel like coming home. Not that home is a place we haven’t seen enough in recent times, but you get my drift. The Three Tang Dynasty Poets Wang…

And why do we want them to melt? — I am aware that writing this article might make me seem like I’m arguing against my own point, so before anyone decides to call me ‘special snowflake’, I warmly welcome you to do so. (What? It’s December and I: A. want snow. B. want to feel special). That disclaimer aside…

“Nay, I swear by the shooting of the stars — And, indeed, that is a grand oath, if you only knew — That this is indeed a noble Quran,” — Alas, the original Arabic would best portray the depth of poetry of the Quran, but fortunately it still somewhat comes across in the English translation. I’ve used this version of the translation, which also comes with an in-depth commentary, if you wish to read a greater analysis and improve your…

Ranked last to first, for absolutely no reason. — If you don’t know the letters of the alphabet, I have nothing to say to you. Literally. I wish we could have some other way of communicating (if I ever become a photographer, I’ll follow you on Instagram) but as for now, my primary form of communication is words. And…

Of 10 songs we know All Too Well. — Love her or not, I think Taylor Swift has played a key part in Gen Z’s collective music taste, no matter what the outcome of those formative years may have been. One thing is clear though: The woman never stops working. From country, to pop, to alternative — Swift is…