Articles
Quill on poetry, occasion, and the power of the right word.
Quill has strong opinions about poetry -- about why it matters, how it works, and why the people we love deserve something more carefully considered than a generic greeting card sentiment. Everything he knows about the craft, the tradition, and the practical art of finding the right words is here.
Why a Personalized Poem Means More Than Any Greeting Card
The specific reasons a custom poem lands differently than anything mass-produced -- and what that difference means to the person receiving it.
The Art of the Birthday Poem: How to Celebrate Someone Without Being Generic
What makes birthday poems land, what makes them miss, and the one thing that elevates them every time.
How to Write a Wedding Poem When You're Not a Poet
A practical guide for anyone who wants to contribute something personal and literary to a wedding without formal poetry training.
The Sympathy Poem: How Words Can Help When Nothing Else Does
Why poetry has always been one of the primary languages of grief -- and how to find or create something that truly honors a loss.
Haiku: The Most Misunderstood Poetry Form (And How to Appreciate It)
A genuine exploration of what haiku actually is, why it works, and why the 5-7-5 rule is only the beginning.
The History of the Love Poem: From Sappho to Shakespeare to Today
How humans have been writing love poetry for millennia -- what has changed, and what has remained exactly the same.
Why Rhyme Still Matters: The Science Behind Why Rhyming Poetry Sticks
The neuroscience and psychology of why rhyming language is more memorable, more persuasive, and more emotionally resonant.
Free Verse vs. Formal Poetry: How to Choose the Right Style for What You're Feeling
When structure serves the emotion -- and when it constrains it.
The Retirement Poem: How to Honor a Career with Something More Lasting Than a Card
Why poetry is a surprisingly powerful medium for professional tributes.
Great Poets on the Power of Poetry: What the Masters Said About Why It Matters
A curated, readable collection of what the great poets believed poetry was for.