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Joseph Bathanti: North Carolinas Poet Laureate

Having grown up in a poor neighborhood in Pittsburg, Pa., Joseph Bathanis home was

rich with books and literature. From that exposure, he developed a love for reading,

which stayed with him in college.

I became an English major in college and then went to graduate school for the same

major, he said. So it is like my main job to read, write, and create. I loved it as a child,

so to do something that I love is simply amazing.

Bathanti is an award-winning poet, professor and advocate for literacy. He is a

professor of creative writing at Appalachian State University and is also the director of

writing in the Field and Writer-in-Residence in the Universitys Watauga Global

Community. He also taught writing workshops in prisons for more than three decades

and is former chair of the N.C. Writers Network Prison project.

Bathanti, North Carolinas seventh poet laureate, recently came to North Carolina A&T

State University to present a workshop for students interested in creative writing and

spoken word. He also read his award-winning poetry and short stories as before signingcopies of his new book.

During his reading, Bathanti introduced an audience of about 50 students and visitors to

his poems, all inspired by his childhood and life experiences. The crowd appealed to

enjoy hearing Sandlot, Simply Wheeling, and Knocked.

Bathantis poem, Footlocker, reflects his memory of a trip to a store with his father to

purchase a footlocker for training at the first prison he was assigned to while a member

of the Volunteers in Service to America (VISA). He used descriptive words that allowed

the audience to enjoy the poem seemingly more than intended.

I really enjoyed Mr. Bathantis poems, said Simone Evans, a criminal justice major and

senior at NCA&T. They were very detailed and he made you feel as though you were

there experiencing the events with him.

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Bathanti also read a passage from one of his short stories from his new book, The High

Heart. The book is a collection of linked short stories, all set in East Liberty, a working

class enclave of Pittsburgh, in the 1960s and 70s.

At the end of the reading, Bathanti signed copies of the book. He also had copies of his

two novels available for purchase. Along with his novels, he has also produced several

books of poetry.

Poetry has changed my life in numerous ways, said Bathanti when asked if he still

enjoyed writing after many years. I believe that it connects people and gives them an

image that may not be seen externally.