Poetry Unbound in Conversation — Don McKay

“I still have the best three-point shot of any Canadian poet born before 1943” is one of the first things that acclaimed poet Don McKay says in this expansive and intimate exchange. We are thrilled to offer this conversation between Padraig and Don, recorded from a virtual interview held on the occasion of Don receiving the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Griffin Poetry Prizes. After touching on his early devotion to basketball, Don speaks of his lifelong passion for geology and birds, how Newfoundland is considered “opera for geologists”,  and why he favors membership over mastery when it comes to relating to Earth’s other living creatures. 

We invite you to subscribe to Pádraig’s weekly Poetry Unbound Substack, read the Poetry Unbound books and his newest work, Kitchen Hymns, or listen to all our Poetry Unbound episodes.  

Don McKay has published 10 previous works of poetry. He's been shortlisted twice for the Griffin Poetry Prize, and in 2024 won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Griffin Poetry Prizes. He lives in Newfoundland, Canada. 

Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.

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