Featured Poet: Robert Dunn, Portsmouth


Robert Dunn, a former Portsmouth Poet Laureate (1999-2001) has long been an active and much loved member of the Portsmouth Poetry Community. When asked for a biographical note, he replied only: "Robert Dunn is said to live in Portsmouth, NH, although not on the best authority."  Some minor sleuthing though has turned up the following information: Robert is the author of: I Hear America Singing, sometimes it troubles me, Oyster River Press and Que , Musa, tendis, published by Peter Randall as well as several little "penny books" that he printed and sewed together.  Individual poems have been published in such journals as: Beloit Poetry Journal, Bellowing Ark, The Lyric and Larcom Review (among others).

Of his showcase poem, Robert told a friend (paraphrased): "If you watch where you’re going, you will never stumble into anything as wonderful like garnet embedded in New Hampshire granite."


Garnet


Embedded in the road cut

just north of highway 4

and you alone walking

                              may yet find

the frozen light of small red stars.

Walking by starlight

along a country road

you must remind

                 your feet to stumble:

Finding the road (made for you alone)

adorned with semi-precious stones.