The Moment of Poetry

I was honored to be Choral Arts Northwest’s composer-in-residence in 2018 at the invitation of Music Director Robert Bode.  The choir had a special friendship with poet Mark Nepo, and I delved deeply into his work to search out “the right” text.  In the end, it was his poem about poetry — “The Moment of Poetry” — that turned out to be a little gem to set. The premiere was given in Seattle on May 5, 2018 along with works of Dominick DiOrio, John David Earnest, Williametta Spencer, and Donald Grantham.

When the sweet ache of being love,

lodged between who you are

and who you will be,

is awakened,

befriend this moment.

It will guide you.

Its sweetness if what holds you.

Its ache is what moves you on.

~Mark Nepo

set with permission of the author