This month, every.Word poetry is set to present 'Lines for Liberation,' a spoken word performance in celebration of Black History Month. every.Word operates under the Poet House, co-directed by Michael Hatcher, who emphasizes the role of poetry as a means for healing and coping with recent societal traumas.
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Poet Ms. Trin-I-Tee articulates that the mission of the Poet House focuses on combating injustice and utilizing poetry as a tool for community empowerment. Hatcher also recorded their official mission statement, which aims to cultivate a care-centered community of spoken word poets by uplifting marginalized voices and fostering artistic spaces that inspire change.
Hatcher and Trin-I-Tee, along with fellow poets Jasmine Games and Dre’ Jackson, will perform in 'Lines for Liberation,' which they describe as a transformative journey. Hatcher describes the piece as a choreopoem featuring four poets on stage for the entire duration, symbolizing an evolving journey of transformation. One highlighted poem, titled 'Butterfly,' reflects Hatcher's personal metamorphosis, encapsulating the overarching theme of transformation in their creative process.
Trin-I-Tee notes that each performance is a significant experience, leading to personal growth for the artists involved. She shares that the creation of her segment for the show has already been transformative. Despite the challenges in crafting her piece, she found the journey rewarding, indicating that personal insights often emerge during rehearsal and editing stages.
Emphasizing the continuous nature of transformation, Trin-I-Tee states, “We don’t have the butterfly lifespan. We have a lot of opportunities to get in our cocoons and transform again and again.” Hatcher lightheartedly acknowledges her poetic expressions, affirming the natural emergence of such thoughts from poets.
'Lines for Liberation' will run from February 26 to March 1 at the VORTEX.