Meet Dorothy Lune - dipity Community Spotlight Q&A Interview no. 9
learn more about poet Dorothy Lune's work through dipity's global interview monthly spotlight feature
Introduction
Dorothy Lune is a Yorta Yorta poet, born in Australia and a Best of the Net 2024 nominee. She is looking to publish her manuscripts and runs the Substack "Ladybug Central" at dorothylune.substack.com.
They call it Lovechild
It's all about appetite where / babies come from on / the fateful Saint Valentine's Day a / religious celebration of God placing / us in an infant's hands like Jesus was once placed / in the fleshy stellar nursery where / you felt colossal crying about an absent father they— call it ice, occasionally speed & / he did not walk faster or / freeze his tears they— call it Elmo, more commonly crystal I / remember his veins bursting & / his glassy voice. They— call it dead dad, or a 90’s heart attack he / worked on train tracks & mum's homework but / he didn't see a Christmas tree as / he was working that day like / an affectionate stray doing / all he can to keep his babies' hearts beating & so / his gave way as if to avoid the trac of family. They— must call her mother regardless / of the title mismatched with her job description her / obligations her / fugitive life hunting an expired one we / all must die sometime like / a heart.
Q: What is the backstory of this poem?
I wrote this on Valentine's Day, having no Valentine—there's no judgment about that fact but I've mulled over the reasons for my consistent solitude. I'm intrigued with how my mother's life has played out, mine is not the same but her childhood’ shadow in mine, certainly. I wanted to write this poem on fathers and the romantic relationships women have with men, I feel lucky but a little dreadful that I haven't been with a man, or anyone else. The psychology of knowing you're a lovechild, but not a child made with love is tragic but important to document, especially in poems. “They call it Lovechild” is ultimately about trust in a low-trust society, through a smaller scale view.
Q: What was your most recent publication?
In February, my poem “Assimilations” was published in Ligeia Magazine's 14th issue https://www.ligeiamagazine.com/winter-2024/assimilations-dorothy-lune/.
Q: What else do you do outside of the writing or poetry community? or What else are you working on or excited about in the future? Any fun hobbies?
I make oil paintings, draw, and sew a little. I'm working on a painting at the moment of a red figure in the sky. My visual art site: https://darabow.weebly.com/. I'm writing 2-3 poetry collections right now, I'm also submitting 2-3 poetry collections. The ideas never stop!
Excluding my other artistic practices, I play Overwatch, learn art history/analysis, rewatch Fire Walk with Me, and each morning I play with my new kitten. I named her Pencil, she has a gray spot on her head and is obsessed with tickling my ears with her teeny baby nose.
Q: When did you begin writing? OR What or who sparked and inspired your writing journey?
Around 2017 I wrote songs for concept albums and EPs, so I tried writing poetry after watching a singer-songwriter in an interview speak about writing poems as a child—funnily enough I began writing poetry around the same age as my mother. 2020ish I read Mary Oliver's Poetry Handbook and the sounds chapter fascinated me—initially I was so confused about meter but it gave writing poems a similar experience to writing songs with fixed rhythms. Eventually, I discovered free verse and that was quite nice. I return to form when my head feels dull.
Q: What advice would you give aspiring poets, authors, or fellow writers in the community?
Assume formlessness when it comes to your identity, regardless of what you do, you're not what you make after all. Cater to your ideas, and find a sustainable routine for your energy. Study art history and other fields, and make connections between things.
Q: What are you currently reading? OR What book(s) would you recommend to others right now?
What Is Otherwise Infinite (2022) by Bianca Stone and I recommend Mary Oliver's Poetry Handbook (1994) as well as Women, Race & Class (1983) by Angela Davis.
Q: What was the last movie or TV show you watched or recommend others see in the community?
I'm in the middle of watching a German Netflix show called Dear Child, it reminds me of Twin Peaks. Recently I finished a crudely animated show about a cruise ship that only had a few episodes, I got attached to the characters of course.
Kelela - Happy Ending (A.G Remix) (Vignette)
Q: Which poets, artists, or writers inspire you?
Allison Blevins influenced me immensely two years ago when I did not feel confident that I knew what a poem should or could look like.
Q: If you were stuck on the moon with anyone or could pick your space flight partner who would it be ( it could be someone from the past or present time)?
Marilyn Monroe, we'd play chess.
Q: What's one of your favorite poems in existence?'
“Autumn” by Amy Lowell
Autumn
All day I have watched the purple vine leaves Fall into the water. And now in the moonlight they still fall, But each leaf is fringed with silver. ~ Amy Lowell Source: (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/14531/autumn-56d208413503b)
To Check Out More of Dorothy Lune’s Work
Circle back to some of her work mentioned above in this Q&A and head over to
on Substack, you can search more online in the future as well! Visit her website https://dorothylune.weebly.com/. You can find links to Dorothy’s publications on Chill Subs too at: https://www.chillsubs.com/user/dorothylune.Please Def Follow: @dorothylune
on Instagram
@LuneDorothy
on Twitter
[Interview Processed By VFORROW]
Note: We choose one song for fun to pair with each Substack submission similar to our website’s online tank or sometimes let writers recommend songs and artists as we did here.
Thank you so much, Dorothy Lune for sharing and submitting to Dipity Lit Mag!
~ Jazz Marie Kaur (Vevna Forrow)
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