Meet Malibu Poet Laureate, Nathan Hassall
Nathan Hassall is the 5th—and youngest ever—Poet Laureate of Malibu, serving the city from 2023 to 2025. As his tenure concludes in September 2025, he will continue his literary service as Malibu’s Poet Laureate Emeritus.
During his laureateship, Nathan has helped shape Malibu’s poetic landscape by curating major community events like the Malibu Poetry Summit, Caffeinated Verse, and the Ripple Effect generative writing workshops. He has taught poetry in local elementary schools, brought verse to civic life by speaking at Veterans Day ceremonies and other city events, and hosted renowned guests including California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, U.S. Poet Laureate Emeritus Robert Hass, and award-winning poets from across the country.
Nathan is an English-American poet whose work spans free-form, experimental, prose, and haiku styles. He is also the founder of The Poetry Vessel, a creative platform and host of The Poetry Vessel Podcast dedicated to inspiring poetic expression, exploring craft, and building community among writers and artists. He holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of Kent, where he honed his craft and deepened his study of poetic form and voice.
His poetry has appeared in respected literary journals such as La Piccioletta Barca, Watershed Review, Arteidolia, Moria, and Ghost City Review.
To learn more about Nathan and explore his work, click the orange button below.
Malibu Poet Laureateship
What is a Poet Laureate?
…And what do they do?
The meaning of a poet laureate actually has its roots in Greek culture, (did Nathan mention he’s Greek as well?) in which a crown or wreath made of “laurel,” which symbolized Apollo (the patron of poets), was given to both poets and heroes alike.
This tradition was later revived in England in the 17th century, when poet laureateships became titles granted to individuals to acknowledge poetic excellence. These laureates often wrote poems for royal and national occasions.
This esteemed tradition later made its way over to the United States in 1936, where it is still considered an official recognition by a city, state, or country today.
Regarding Malibu’s history, Nathan is honored to be the city's 5th and youngest poet laureate.
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