Albert Dumont : part five

How does a poem begin?

A poem begins with an experience, one of my own or that of someone else. It begins with an idea which goes from the heart to the mind and back to the heart again.

Albert Dumont : part four

Why is poetry important?

My poetry is important because it allows people who read my poems, a glimpse of my soul.

Albert Dumont : part three

When you require renewal, is there a particular poem or book that you return to? A particular author?

Renewal of my creative energy for me, is found in any forest in Algonquin territory. I find answers to all of life’s questions near the trees and in the music of the birds, leaves and rain. In the forest, I am inspired and motivated.

Albert Dumont : part two

How do you know when a poem is finished?

A poem is considered to be finished by me, when my heart responds to hearing its stanzas recited out loud. If a poem doesn’t touch me emotionally or spiritually, it tells me that more work needs to be done.

Albert Dumont : part one

Albert Dumont is an activist, a volunteer and a poet who has published 6 books of poetry and short stories. In recognition for his work as an activist and volunteer on his ancestral lands (Ottawa and Region) Albert was presented with a Human Rights Award by the Public Service Alliance of Canada in 2010. In January 2017 he received the DreamKEEPERS Citation for Outstanding Leadership. Albert has dedicated his life to promoting Aboriginal spirituality and healing and to protecting the rights of Aboriginal Peoples particularly those as they affect the young.

How did you first engage with poetry?

Many years ago I found myself recovering from a bad accident which came very close to taking my life. I was in severe dire straits because the accident left me unable to work at my trade as a bricklayer. At that time, I was celebrating 5 years of sobriety. I had no money to buy a meal in a restaurant for my two daughters, so I decided to write a poem to honour my life as a dad, rejecting alcohol. My girls took the poem to school to show their teacher and the next thing I know, the local newspaper published “The Path my Children Travel”.