As we end our celebration of National Poetry Month, take a moment with these locally-sourced readings of poetry about music.
More: 91Classical has celebrated National Poetry Month throughout April.
Mercy At The Ryman by Destiny Birdsong
read by the poet
Birdsong is a contributor to Nashville Public Radio’s podcast Versify. This poem is from episode 20, which features the story of singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier. Find more of Birdsong’s work on her website, which also has the information about her upcoming collection, Negotiations, set to release in October of 2020.
Nashville Needs More Harpsichords by Chance Chambers
read by the poet
Chambers coordinates public outreach for The Porch Writing Center, and you can find out more about his work on his website.
Identity crisis as a country song by Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay
read by the poet
This work is from Mukhopadhyay’s poetry album, titled i don’t know anyone here. The full album, including the rest of the song, is on her bandcamp page.
Marimba, by Rev. Michael Williams
read by Colleen Phelps
Williams was a beloved storyteller, playwright, and poet, whose work was often shaped by his own spirituality, but also by the stories that he lived — or didn’t, as he once won first prize in the Kentucky Liars Competition. His final two collections, Take Nothing For Your Journey and The Khristos Cantos are available from Finishing Line Press.
If Beethoven Were Emperor, by Joann Falletta
read by the poet
While Falletta does not live in Nashville, she treated us to this reading when she visited to conduct the Nashville Symphony. The Grammy-winning conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony Orchestra composes poetry as a hobby, and her works are available on her website.
During National Poetry Month we had dramatic readings of Shakespeare, old poems became newly relevant, and art song was on display. Find all of this and more in our Poetry Month archive.
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