E Y E W E A R, THE BLOG - FREEDOM MEANS BEING UNAFRAID TO WRITE WHAT YOU THINK

It has been months since I wrote anything here and anything written before has been superseded by such strange, heretofore unimaginable, and extreme, world events, that reality itself has seemed at times bent out of shape. Of course, as commentators have long said, the near-occult power of Donald Trump to warp reality by constant fabrication, deception, and illusion, is a form of magic, augmented by the chaos he seemingly intentionally unleashes daily, with wars, taxes, threats, insults, and weird claims; as well as demonstrable affection for right-wing and tyrannical leaders and systems. In the past few months, for example, Trump has turned Canada, once a paragon of reliable loyalty and decent stability, into almost a foe, and has antagonised a whole nation, with his wild lies and threats. The damage is huge. Bryan Adams has even released an enraged single titled "51st State". Elbows Up Canada Strong! This Donroe power grab menacing Canada is economically illiterate, cruel ...

Sad news. Ai , the American poet with the striking name, died a week ago, on March 20, of pneumonia brought on by advanced cancer. One of my most-prized poetry gifts is the copy of Ai's Vice that Nicole Blackman gave me, about half a decade back. Her strength was the uncompromising dramatic monologue. She was a major poet, and will be missed.