Tag Archives: Poet

Collaborations

Posted on by
Reply

I just wrapped up a couple of really exciting collaborations on some choral pieces, one with a local lyricist, and one with a famous author. The collaboration with the famous author was across time and space, and we’ve never actually met (aside from brief twitter conversations). But his assistant said it was okay, and that’s all that matters.

The local lyricist/poet’s name is Danielle King and we’ve put together a very exciting piece for all three Soundings Studio Choirs (Women’s Ensemble, High School Choir, Middle School Choir) plus guitar and harp. Danielle did a great job on the text, and I’ll be announcing the title tomorrow. (Here it is!)

Unfortunately, while I was hoping the collaboration with the famous author would be premiering at a concert this winter, it looks like it’s going to have to wait until the Spring. But it’s okay, I think it’s more of Spring piece anyway.

Poetry Slam Asheville

Posted on by
Reply

This winter, I ventured out one cold night with my sister Artemis and made my way to the Masonic Temple in Downtown Asheville. The purpose of this outing was to attend Poetry Slam Asheville.

I had never attended a Poetry Slam before, and I had no clue what to expect. I was amazed at the talent that was showcased that night, in both the writing and the performance. I performed a poem in the open mic section, and felt very warmly received. The guest slam teams were incredible, and it was nice to be shown a wide variety of the possibilities with spoken word.

It was a long show to be sure, and after an intermission, the slam (the competition section) began. What astounded me here was the complete and total honesty that was laid bare in the auditorium. Topics that people are afraid to discuss in private were performed openly for total strangers. The entire time the slam was going I was being hit with inspiration for poems, and I definitely plan on participating in the slam in the next few months.

Spoken word is a refuge for pure performance. Just like Homer or the choruses of the Greek Theatre, the poetry slam touches on a very basic style of communication, one that we don’t often see in today’s society. Without the bells and whistles, we still have each other.

Poetry Slam Asheville

Nathan Hathaway

Whores and Bookstores

Posted on by
1

A little poetry to liven up your life . . .

Babylon College Library 306.74

“I have a friend to the end

Kayla is her name
Curly is her mane
Tiny is her fame

She’s a whore
To be sure

Not for dicks
Are her tricks

No such luck
Not for muff

Only books
Earn her looks

As I said
She’s a whore
She’s the whore

A very definite article

She’s the whore of Babylon College
She’s a slut for knowledge

Feel the thrill so divine
When she strokes a book’s spine

How all her lust rages
When she turns the pages

Not content with one subject
Each shelf has love objects

She’s the whore of Babylon College

Just the whore of Babylon College

If only she could teach us
And then she maybe wean us
From the joy of muff and penis

Then maybe

Just maybe

The world would be a better place.

All thanks to

The Whore of Babylon College”

Also!

The Huffington Post is running a poll on their website called “Bookstores We Love For Their Spirit of Independence.” Asheville favorite Malaprops is in the running! It’s been in and out of the top five, but we can still win this thing! Go to the website and rate it a ten. I think you can vote more than once, so go crazy (if you haven’t already).

Doing some reading,
Nathan Hathaway