Steaven Misher : Atlanta ’ s Rising Prince of Poetry
When Steaven Misher speaks you get the sense that you need to pull up a chair and get real close because you don ’ t want to miss a word . He delivers phrases with the cadence of a melodic jazz band — too many pathways to keep up--- but every single sound blends perfectly into one harmonious masterpiece . Misher is unassuming , except for the fact that he is almost always in a suit and reliably ready to arrest your psyche with his words . He has been creating and sharing his poetry to anyone that will listen for more than two decades . But now , this self-professed Prince of Poetry wants to step outside of the shadows of the unknown and assume his place as the voice of a new generation of rhapsodists in Atlanta . Misher is a southern boy at heart and he exudes a charm and intellect that is a throwback to the Harlem Renaissance . He was born in Albany , Georgia but later moved to Washington , D . C . before serving a stint in the U . S . Military . Misher completed undergraduate work at Morehouse College , holds two Master ’ s degrees and is in the process of completing his PhD . He is also a well-respected teacher in the Atlanta school system . Yet , Misher feels like his educational accomplishments are not what qualifies his existence . He believes it ’ s his poetry . Misher
5 - Game Changers Magazine Sep / Oct 2017
By : Kaliah Henton-Jones
recalled the day he knew he had a gift , “ I recited a poem I wrote about raising black boys to a group of grown men inside a barbershop … when I got through there wasn ’ t a dry eye in the house . My words and delivery brought them to tears .” It was at that moment that he understood the power of his words . Misher has not looked back since . In 2010 , Misher completed his first anthology of poetry , Eagles Fly Alone . It was a collection of inspirational works . It also contained his most recognized poem by the same name . In 2013 , he released Healing in His Wings . It served as a tribute to people who inspired some of his earlier works . This year , Misher completed his third anthology , Heaven Has Windows . He calls it his best work yet . It came at a time when Misher says he faced , “ Great personal difficulty .” He suffered through the death of his brother and then struggled with the dissolution of a marriage . “ It was as if the walls were caving in on me and I had nowhere else to go but the pad and pen .” Misher says , “ Heaven Has Windows was humbling and at the same time my most vulnerable piece of work . I had to take a close look at me to really find healing and hope .” Now Misher has turned another page in his story . He was recently selected as “ 2017 ’ s Best Inspirational Poet ” through Georgia Artists & Neo Soul Poetry Awards ( GANSPA ). The poetry award has positioned Misher to a wider audience and has made his grind to produce and recite poetry even more intense . Misher writes poetry at alarming pace . First , he is inspired by a thought or idea then he isolates himself before fleshing out his message . That ’ s when the stanzas start flowing and the barbs from the rhythm and rhymes strike the listener ’ s ear like a sting ray . During a dinner meeting a few weeks back , Misher sat in a crowded noisy South Atlanta restaurant to have a business meeting about a television appearance he was scheduled to have later in the week . Conversation shifted to one of his early poems written in high school . Without missing a beat Misher reached back into his poetic vault and began to recite the 20-yearold poem . In the two to three minutes that followed time froze . Business associates around the table with Misher were immediately sucked into the vortex of his words . It had appeared that a slight hush fell over that section of the restaurant as he transformed himself into this brazen poet that had the cadence of Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr ., the swagger of former President Barack Obama and the poetic resilience of the rapper Common . Steaven Misher is the real deal . The poet , U . S . Veteran and educator is now working on plans to form his own non-profit . It will support causes that impacts the lives of the world ’ s most vulnerable … children . Misher is also working on a secret project that he says will make waves concerning some of Atlanta ’ s best poets . He is also committed to community causes . He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity , Inc ., the 100 Black Men of DeKalb County and the Henry County Branch of the NAACP . Later this month , Misher will be a featured performer at the Gospel Choice Awards on September 25th at the Georgia International Convention Center . Atlanta ’ s Rising Prince of Poetry says now is his time to make a difference . In the words of his hero and fellow Morehouse College alum Dr . Martin Luther King , Jr ., “ Be a bush if you can ’ t be a tree . If you can ’ t be a highway , just be a trail . If you can ’ t be a sun , be a star . For it isn ’ t by size that you win or fail . Be the best of whatever you are .” Misher is claiming his seat at the podium to be the best poet Atlanta ’ s ever seen . Learn more about Steaven Misher Website : www . steavenmisher . com Twitter : @ smisher73 Instagram : @ Smisher73 YouTube : SteavenMisher