Skip to main content
Appalachian Today
News and events at Appalachian State University
  • For the media
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • Contact

New state poet laureate pens poem for veterans

View larger image
View larger image
Posted Nov. 10, 2012 at 11:03 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — When award-winning poet, Appalachian State University professor and advocate for literacy Joseph Bathanti was named North Carolina's poet laureate in October 2012, he announced plans to work with veterans to share their stories through poetry.

To celebrate Veterans Day, Bathanti has written a special poem for veterans, families of veterans and for everyone who honors America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

View larger image

"North Carolina, arguably the heart of the U.S. military establishment, is overflowing with unforgettable stories of veterans and their families, and across the state there are various initiatives, as well as writers and countless others, dedicated to bringing these accounts to the surface," Bathanti said.

"As Poet Laureate, I find myself suddenly in a position to make something very meaningful happen in North Carolina by serving as a lightning rod to publicize these programs, create a consortium of thought and action among them, and help create a sustainable collaborative model for teaching writing workshops for vets that can be duplicated and delivered anywhere in the state."

View larger image

Saint Francis's Satyr, a rare endangered butterfly that exists exclusively in a 10 by 10 kilometer, high artillery impact zone within Fort Bragg.

Saint Francis's Satyr Butterfly

View larger image

Joseph Bathanti's handwritten poem.

View larger image

Joseph Bathanti

All creatures have the same source as we have.
Saint Francis of Assisi

A reclusive small brown butterfly,
white and yellow stigmatic suns

deployed along its wing ridges,
Saint Francis's Satyr - christened

after the 12th century Italian soldier
and POW turned mystic -

secretes itself, miraculously,
in 10 by 10 kilometers

of the 251 square mile brash
of Fort Bragg - exact coordinates classified -

beyond which - we know this much -
it has gone undetected. Shy, endangered,

preferring anonymity, it hides
in high artillery impact domains -

life often chooses death -
the fires triggered by bombardment.

It wears Marsh camouflage,
resembles in its favored habitat -

blasted sedge and beaver ruins -
a tiny standard issue

Advanced Combat Helmet.
Parsed from the chrysalis,

rent too soon from its dream of living,
the satyr blazes in desperate glory

but three or four days,
in its imaginal stage,

then tenders its life in writ sacrifice.
Its gorgeous numbers dwindle.

The caterpillar has never been seen.
We accept, on faith, metamorphosis.

Joseph Bathanti

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Help create care packages for deployed students

To support students deployed in the military, Appalachian State University's Office of Student Development is preparing holiday care packages. You can help.

Items can be dropped off through Nov.16 at two campus donation points, B. B. Dougherty Administration Building and the International Hallway stairwell in Plemmons Student Union. Suggested donation items include:

  • Appalachian merchandise
  • food items
  • telephone cards
  • personal care items
  • books and magazines

Currently deployed students are Ryan Pope, Michael Simmons, Ethan Smith and Ryan Smith. Additionally, the Office of Student Development plans to send "well wishes" to James Pierce, a former student who was severely injured recently in Afghanistan.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

Help create care packages for deployed students

To support students deployed in the military, Appalachian State University's Office of Student Development is preparing holiday care packages. You can help.

Items can be dropped off through Nov.16 at two campus donation points, B. B. Dougherty Administration Building and the International Hallway stairwell in Plemmons Student Union. Suggested donation items include:

  • Appalachian merchandise
  • food items
  • telephone cards
  • personal care items
  • books and magazines

Currently deployed students are Ryan Pope, Michael Simmons, Ethan Smith and Ryan Smith. Additionally, the Office of Student Development plans to send "well wishes" to James Pierce, a former student who was severely injured recently in Afghanistan.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

Share

Topics

  • Arts and Humanities
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff

Other Recent Posts

  • 3 App State graduate students win $25,000 award in sustainable business pitch competition
    3 App State graduate students win $25,000 award in sustainable business pitch competition
  • App State honors campus, community champions of diversity, equity and inclusion
    App State honors campus, community champions of diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted <span style="white-space: nowrap;">June 7</span>
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted June 7
  • Marine Corps veteran Dr. Seth Grooms lays wreath for App State’s Memorial Day commemoration
    Marine Corps veteran Dr. Seth Grooms lays wreath for App State’s Memorial Day commemoration
  • App State earns designation as a Top 10 Military Friendly School for 2023–24
    App State earns designation as a Top 10 Military Friendly School for 2023–24
  • Surry County principal named Principal of the Year in North Carolina [alumni featured]
    Surry County principal named Principal of the Year in North Carolina [alumni featured]
    Winston-Salem Journal
  • How can N.C. better recruit and retain teachers? These partnerships share best practices
    How can N.C. better recruit and retain teachers? These partnerships share best practices
    EdNC
  • <span style="color: #bc8801;">SoundAffect:</span> Dr. Sharon Contreras on ensuring a high-quality education for all children
    SoundAffect: Dr. Sharon Contreras on ensuring a high-quality education for all children
  • Over 3,600 App State graduates earn degrees at Spring 2023 Commencement
    Over 3,600 App State graduates earn degrees at Spring 2023 Commencement
  • Are heart rate and blood pressure the same? No, and it’s important to understand why. [faculty featured]
    Are heart rate and blood pressure the same? No, and it’s important to understand why. [faculty featured]
    American Heart Association
  • At App State lab schools, empowered teachers foster supportive classrooms for K–5 students
    At App State lab schools, empowered teachers foster supportive classrooms for K–5 students
  • Dr. Ashley Walker Colquitt named associate vice provost and dean of App State’s Williams School of Graduate Studies
    Dr. Ashley Walker Colquitt named associate vice provost and dean of App State’s Williams School of Graduate Studies

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the Media
  • Grants
  • Speakers
  • All Posts
  • Topics
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2023 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
ucomm@appstate.edu

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat