Earlier this year, I was invited to perform at the 90th anniversary celebration of a local Reserve Officer Association. For the event, I wrote a new poem specifically for that audience.

The writing process was deliberate and careful. The themes: honour, responsibility, and leadership, required precision rather than decoration. I questioned my own perspective and spent time researching, listening, and revising before the poem began to find its voice.

The text went through multiple drafts. Only through rewriting, cutting, and restructuring did a clear narrative and tone emerge. The goal was to write something respectful and grounded, without turning it into ceremony.

This project reflects how I approach writing in general: understanding context, questioning assumptions, and shaping language until it carries meaning without excess.