Donald Walkingbear was raised on the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Edgar Allen Poe and William Shakespeare, as read to him each night. Walkingbear stopped listening and began writing when his age could still be counted on two hands. Since he hasn’t shied from a topic, just spun each into its own rhythm. Tonight, Walkingbear (AKA “The Man with the Green Hat”) is the featured poet at the MOPoetry Slam at Nathan P Murphy’s, for what could be his curtain call. A health condition makes it difficult for him to properly breathe. “One of the cysts on my liver has grown sizable enough to intrude into my diaphragm,” Walkingbear said. If you’re curious about Slam or have never been to a MOPoetry event, make sure to get out of the house tonight – cancel the mental image of Michael Myers in So I Married an Axe Murderer. Also featured is musical guest Cornfed Chronicles. Tickets are just $5, show starts at 7 p.m. Walkingbear will be releasing his first CD, The Best of Green Hat. Vol. 9 as well, with half the proceeds going to Ozarks Food Harvest.
TAGsgf.com: These events aren’t like people see in the movies (candles, finger snapping, etc.), what can the audience expect from a slam in SGF?
Donald Walkingbear: There’s a general mood of good-natured rowdiness among both performers and audience members. I’ve had folk tell me on their first attendance to a Slam that they felt as if they had walked into a family reunion…a family of which they were readily accepted by and drawn into.
TAG: Tell me a little about your background as a poet and how the art of spoken word drew your attention?
D.W.: My stepfather had a library of classic poets from which he would read aloud of an evening. Although born in ’55, my upbringing was a 19th century one; no television or radio. He instilled in me the seeds to perform from those evenings of Longfellow, Poe and Shakespeare.
TAG: How would you describe yourself as a poet and who influenced your style?
D.W.: I’m a scatter-shot poet…nothing too sacred or profane to miss poetic observation I feel. I’ve been compared to (literally) any poet you may think of. I stopped reading poetry at the age of nine when I began to write my own. I’d like to think that living has influenced me the most.
TAG: Which local poets do you enjoy most?
D.W.:I’ve never met ANY poet not worth listening to. I enjoy every one I meet and am privileged to hear.
TAG: How has the scene grown or changed since you got involved?
D.W.: Well, Mike Sowers brought the integrity of slam poetry, here on the local scene, back into line with that of the national scene. On my return to the city a couple of years ago the increased number of open mics was immediately noticeable and most welcome.
TAG: Do you have any places that really get the creative juices flowing? What’s your ideal setting for inspiration?
D.W.: Anywhere. Everywhere. Seriously.
I’ll let it rip
I’ve got the roar
Lay on the lip
like never before
Give you quick
or a soft slow down
Or lullabye sing
a feeling around
TAG: Most recent album you listened to?
D.W.: Probably the triple album “Yessongs” by the group Yes back in the mid-70′s. Although I do listen to Last Radio and Pandora on the Internet I prefer my music as I do my poetry; live and in person.
TAG: Most recent book you read?
D.W.: The Player of Games by Ian M Banks.
TAG: Best piece of advice you can give or have received?
D.W.: Any and all moralizing advice is wrong.
Follow Us!