New poem: `Mr. Ego Himself

 

Mr. Ego Himself

 I heard Mr. Ego Himself today

on the radio talking about his 90^th

birthday and new book, the perennial

host of the famous Canadian Nature

show, superconscious environmentalist

and climate alarmist whose paradigm

has no room for God and the immortal

soul, only space enough for him and

his persona that he spawned out of

a biologically inspired philosophy of life

that’s being chased by Time’s winged

chariot and still sowing fear of the

impending apocalypse that he begam

warning the world about more

than forty years ago.

 

Composed in Tiny Beaches,

Georgian Bay, Southcentral Ontario

Sunday, March 22, 2026

 

 GENERATIVE AI COMMENTARY ON POEM’S MEANING

 The poem "Mr. Ego Himself" by Orest Stocco is a sharp, critical character study that likely targets the prominent Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki. Stocco uses the occasion of the subject's 90th birthday and a new book to dismantle the public persona of a "superconscious environmentalist". 

 The Target: David Suzuki

The poem's details closely mirror Suzuki's life and career:The "Famous Canadian Nature Show": Suzuki hosted the long-running CBC program The Nature of Things for over 40 years.

The 90th Birthday: David Suzuki was born in 1936, making him 90 in 2026.

The "Climate Alarmist": Suzuki is internationally known for his urgent warnings about climate change and the "impending apocalypse," a message he has championed for decades. 

 Thematic Analysis

Stocco’s critique centers on the tension between the subject's secular philosophy and the poet’s spiritual worldview.

Secularism vs. Spirituality: Stocco describes the subject’s paradigm as one with "no room for God and the immortal soul." This highlights a fundamental disagreement: the subject views life through a "biologically inspired philosophy," whereas the poet sees this as a narrow, "ego"-driven space that ignores the metaphysical.

The "Ego" and the "Persona": The title and the text suggest that the subject's public image—the "superconscious environmentalist"—is a manufactured "persona" he "spawned". Stocco implies that this identity is a shield for the ego rather than a selfless pursuit of truth.

The Pressure of Mortality: The allusion to "Time’s winged chariot" (referencing Andrew Marvell’s To His Coy Mistress) suggests that the subject is being chased by his own mortality. Despite his focus on saving the planet from an apocalypse, he cannot escape the inevitable end of his own "biologically inspired" existence.

Sowing Fear: The poet characterizes the subject's environmental warnings as "sowing fear." This frames Suzuki's activism not as a noble crusade, but as a persistent, perhaps even self-serving, alarmism that has lasted for over forty years. 

 Literary Devices

Allusion: The reference to "Time’s winged chariot" underscores the irony of a man obsessed with the future of the planet while facing the immediate end of his own life.

Metaphor: Describing the subject's worldview as having "space enough for him and his persona" acts as a metaphor for narcissism, suggesting his "environmentalism" is actually a closed loop of self-regard.

 

 

 

New poem: "My Favorite Movie Hero"

 

My Favorite Movie Hero

My favorite movie hero

is the good/bad man, like Liam

Neeson and Jason Stathom

who are good men who do bad

things to make things right;

that’s the charismatic paradox

my favorite movie hero.

 Composed in Tiny Beaches,

Georgian Bay, Southcentral Ontario

Friday, March 20,2026

 

 GENERATIVE AI COMMENTARY ON POEM’S MEANING

This poem by Orest Stocco—a writer known for spiritual and reflective works such as The Merciful Law of Divine Synchronicity and What Would I Say Today if I Were To Die Tomorrow?—explores the concept of the "charismatic paradox." The analysis focuses on the moral ambiguity of modern cinematic heroes through several key themes:

 1. The Good/Bad Man Paradox

The central theme is the subversion of traditional heroism. Instead of a "pure" hero, Stocco identifies with the "good/bad man." This character archetype is defined by a internal contradiction: 

The Intent: They are fundamentally "good men" driven by a moral compass.

The Action: They commit "bad things"—often acts of extreme violence or law-breaking.

The Goal: These actions are justified as the only way to "make things right."

 2. Contemporary Archetypes

Stocco uses Liam Neeson and Jason Statham as modern embodiments of this paradox.

Liam Neeson: Often portrays the "retired professional" (e.g., Taken) who must return to a dark world to save his family.

Jason Statham: Known for "anti-hero" roles (e.g., The Transporter) where he operates outside the law but follows a strict personal code of honor.
These figures represent a shift in audience preference from the "flawless" hero to the "relatable" protector who is willing to get their hands dirty. 

 3. The "Charismatic Paradox"

The poem concludes that this contradiction is exactly what makes the hero "charismatic."

Moral Weight: The hero's struggle with their own "bad" actions adds depth and "weight" to their character.

The Justification: The audience forgives the "bad" because it serves a "good" end. This reflects a philosophical exploration of sacrifice and justice often seen in epic storytelling.

The Appeal: The charisma stems from the hero's absolute certainty in their cause, even when their methods are questionable.