Poet Nathan Richardson discusses poetry, performance and publishing

 

Nathan Richardson has an amazing voice. When he speaks, he compels the audience to listen. When he performs his spoken word, he has the power to captivate his crowd. Most importantly, this Suffolk-born poet uses his powerful voice to entertain, inform and encourage others. During this e-mail interview, Nathan Richardson answers questions about his book of poetry, Likeness of Being, his spoken word CD, Live at Langley, and his various workshops.

Richmond Books Examiner:  In your words, what is Likeness of Being?

Nathan Richardson:  Likeness of Being is my first collection of poetry. All the poems were written during the years between 1982 and 2005. That was my awakening. The sub-title of the book is "A Poetic Look at Friends and Strangers" and the core message of the collection reflects the discovery I made during those years; that we all have more likenesses than we do differences.

RBE:  What would you like people to know about you? What would you like them to know about your poetry?

Richardson:  My poetry is born out of the oral tradition of poetry. I was brought up in a rich tradition of storytelling. Storytelling and the influences of gospel and jazz music are the key elements of my work.

RBE:  The CD of your spoken word is entitled Live at Langley. Describe the experience of creating that CD.

Richardson:  Like the title suggests, Live at Langley was recorded several years ago during a live performance at Langley Air Force Base. Each year the airmen and women on the base sponsor a Black History event that includes jazz and poetry. I try to record most of my performances in audio or video. I use the recordings mostly to critique myself. But you never know when you're gonna get one of those rare combinations of performance and audience interaction. Langley was just one of those nights when everything came together. It’s been a very successful CD.

RBE:  In your opinion, how does listening to your poetry, rather than just reading it, enhance the experience?

Richardson:  One of the reasons poetry went into hibernation after the Harlem Renaissance is that people stopped reading it out loud. Teachers in many schools relegated it to the page and assigned students to sit at their desks reading silently to themselves. What agony! No wonder the connection between Shakespeare, Langston Hughes and rap is basically lost. I feel blessed to be part of this new generation of spoken word poets who have the challenge of bridging that gap.

RBE:  You offer poetry and spoken word workshops for young people; some workshops for younger children and others for high school students. Do you have a story from a previous workshop that you'd like to share?

Richardson:  Two events come to mind. The first was the day I received a bundle of more than 50 letters and poems sent to me from two classes of students at Manteo Middle School in North Carolina. In addition to the compliments about the poetry I shared with them, they also shared with me, their feelings about what it is like to be 12 and 13 years old in today's society.

The second event was a young man who came to my workshop without completing his poetry homework assignment. During the class, something inspired him to compose a poem that he wrote on his bare forearms. I have pictures of him standing in front of the class reading the poem about his absent father.

RBE:  You have your own publishing company, Spiritual Concepts. You also offer a publishing workshop for authors. What have you learned about the publishing industry?

Richardson:  Since most of the major authors on the market today have self published at least once before they signed the big contract, my focus is on self publishing. But, unlike most workshops which spend a lot of time on how to get the book printed, my self publishing workshops concentrate on marketing the book and the author. In other words, what to do after you get that delivery of 500 or 1000 books on your living room floor and how to make them disappear - without giving them away.

RBE:  Would you like to share an excerpt from one of your poems?

Richardson:  Your readers are welcome to check out some of my poetry on YouTube. Just search my screen name - PoetNathan or search the titles: The Beginning, Weapons of Mass Destruction, We, The Age Every Girl Wants to Be and T is for Tapia.

RBE:  Do you have any upcoming events?

Richardson:  My next three events are as follows: a reading on July 15th at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk, VA where I'll be warming up the audience for the famous peace activist and author Cindy Sheehan; then on July 24th, an encore performance at the Hero Community Center in Philadelphia, PA; and on August 1st, a Self publishing workshop at the Greenbrier Public Library in Chesapeake, VA. My new collection of poetry titled You are the Subject is scheduled for release in August.

For more information:  To learn more about Nathan Richardson's poetry and workshops please visit his website.  Richardson's latest collection of poetry, You are the Subject, is scheduled for release in August.