M.D. Dunn

Wrote this after attending the first citizens meeting regarding the construction of a ferrochrome refinery in Sault Ste. Marie. 


Your Life For Money
 
Will you trade your life for money?
They say it’s just a little
bit of poison, nothing you can’t handle.
You might lose a hand, and keep the middle finger.
It will hurt a bit at first, but the pain is going to linger.
When you trade life for money.
 
            How far does the water flow?
            How deep does the poison go?
 
Will you sell your blood to vampires,
who dig up the wilds
who spread contagion building empires,
who solve their problems by writing out cheques?
They look you in the eye while they measure your neck.
When you sell blood to vampires.
 
            How far does the water flow?
            How deep does the poison go?
 
Will you trade your life for money,
to drive a big truck,
pay for your funeral, and keep pushing your luck
with the billionaires who make holes in the ground?
They got a grave dug for you when you finally fall down.
When you trade your life for money.
 
            How far does the water flow?
            How deep does the poison go?
            How far does the water flow?
            How deep does the poison go? 

Just when I thought no had read my last book, _Even the Weapons_ (BuschekBooks, 2014), poet and editor Laura Berry from BerryPoetryBookReviews drops this generous review. Thanks, Laura. 
 https://poets.media/dunn-s-poetic-work-intoxicates

Last November, I was asked to read some poems at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Asked what to call the presentation, I chose the lofty title above. The talk looks at the influence of place on poetry and the influence poetry has on our perceptions of place. Poems can change the way we see the world, and in that way construct the world. Here is a link to the talk, if you're into that sort of thing. There are lots of poems from all three of my books and lots of stories about the poems and the places that shaped them. There is also quite a bit of heckling from a rowdy audience of word lovers. Enjoy. Making Place: How Poetry Invents the World

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Here is an interview with Toronto-based songwriter Ansley Simpson published in The Rumpus. If you don't know Ansley's music, get to know it. 

Here is an article by Brian Kelly from The Sault Star: "The River Inspires Dunn's New CD"

Here is something really cool. Bruce Cockburn has been a hero of mine, a hero to millions, for years and years. I've had the great honour to interview him twice. The first time was in 2015 for Canadian Dimension Magazine. The link is on this page, if you'd like to read it. The second time I interviewed Mr. Cockburn was in January, 2018. That one you can read here: THE RUMPUS/BRUCE COCKBURN

It was very kind of Exclaim! Magazine to ask me to review Bruce Cockburn's new album. I had intended to write a longer, song-by-song review, but just have other things that need doing. For now, here is the Exclaim! review of exclaim.ca/music/article/bruce_cockburn-bone_on_bone_Bone on Bone_.

       I have been talking about this album by Ansley Simpson so much for the past few weeks that people just nod their heads and say, "Yeah. Yeah. Breakwall. Yeah. Ansley Simpson." So, instead of repeating myself to friends and family, I decided to review it. Those who know me know that I used to write lots of reviews etc. Over the next few months, i will post more reviews of music that moves me. Thanks, Exclaim!!, for publishing the review. And thanks to Ansley Simpson and crew for making such a moving and beautiful album. If you don't believe that music can heal, here's proof:
   http://exclaim.ca/music/article/ansley_simpson-breakwall