Years ago I met Dan Denton. You can say sometimes things happen when they need to. We had seen each other at a couple different open mics in Toledo. If you had asked Dan what he was back then, he probably would have told you he was a factory worker. I guess Dan’s wife figured we needed to meet. One day I was walking into a reading and they were sitting there she asked me to join them.
I knew it would not take me long to show Dan just what he was. He just took off on his own from there. It was beautiful to watch him learn to swim, and then get out there. Now he’s divorced, and he definitely knows he’s a Poet. Now he no longer works in the factory and lives a Poet’s life.
I grew up in Florida in the 80’s and 90’s and I had no idea what this stuff was that I just naturally wrote, and what to do with it. Growing up in a cultural void like Florida will do that. I drove across the country and moved to LA.
I had a girlfriend that went to a Poetry Reading a guy had in his living room in Glendale every week. She didn’t want me to go there, because she flirted with a bunch of guys and I guess having her boyfriend around would be a problem.
Being a rebellious Poet one week I just showed up on my own. She wasn’t happy about it, but I kind of let her do what she wanted to do, and she didn’t mind. After I read there was a Poet there named Sean came up to me and said, “Man, you are a Poet. Take this and run with it. You never know where it will take you. It will take you anywhere.”
Things happen when they need to. Hearing that sent me on this journey of poverty and suffering that is the life of the Poet. It isn’t for everyone, and it doesn’t pay money at least. All I could do is pay it forward and send Dan on his way.
I made sure I taught Dan how to make chapbooks so he’s released a few over the years. This his first collection of Poetry is pretty much those chapbooks, and at the end there are newer Poems.
The Poems start with energy with “Eat You Beats Kids” which is pretty much a call to cannibalize everything. What I love of the work of Dan Denton is the raw grittiness of it. This writing pierces the illusion, you can tell he has lived every word.
Turn down the volume speaks of meeting Jesus in a mental institution. Burry My Heart In The Gutter is anthem of a man that made it to the suburbs. The Midwest is a lesson of how with its factories the Midwest is the heart and soul of America. City Hues is Toledo painted with words, and Denton paints it well.
I can feel the tones of Kaufman and Baraka in America, What Is Your Excuse. You can hear an echo of truth in these Poems, a truth I know too well. While you’re working the best hours of your life away, you tend to hate time clocks, you tend to count the hours.
Junkyard Heart is a beautiful song in perfect rhythm. One For National Poetry Month echoes a truth that I agree with. I’ve always loved to hear Namaste Motherfucker read aloud so it’s good to read it. Long Live The Ink Pen shows us the Poet sinking into his safe space.
As you can see there are a lot of high spots in this collection. My only complaint is that it might be a little long, and could use a little editing or cutting. Aside from that I am proud of Dan. All I ever did was give him the torch. He ran with it. He’s still running with it. He will always be running with it.
purchase your copy of FIGHT SONGS FOR THE UNDERDOGS by Dan Denton here
Over the years Michael D. Grover has become a legendary underground Poet. Back in the early 2000s he ran Covert Press and worked with many of the giants of underground Poetry. Over the years Michael has been published in countless publications all over the World, and published over fifteen books of Poetry. Michael spent over ten years as head Poetry editor of the literary zine Red Fez. Michael has published two novels. Michael currently lives in Florida, dealing with cancer, with his dog where he meditates every day.
