There are too many works across too many genres to generate a list. What I notice though, is that they all have one thing in common, which is that they all made me question my ideas about reality and how language and sound has an influence on the perception of reality.

One idea that really changed the way I thought about writing poetry was the understanding that a blank page is a universe to be populated by the imagination, skill and style of the creator. The universe becomes real when someone else perceives it and finishes populating the universe with their imagination and perceptions, which are influenced by all the life they've lived until encountering the poem. So, the reader supplies the light, which is why a poem needs to be crafted, much like a gem needs to be cut. A well-cut gem will catch the light in a number of ways that the rough stone can't, even if they're elementally the same thing. A well-crafted poem will catch the attention of a reader in much the same way, hopefully inciting the reader to explore all the facets and admire the craftsmanship.

Some people though, just like shiny stuff and can't tell the difference between a diamond and crumpled up aluminum foil. Learning that was pretty pivotal too.