Life & Work with Marquise Person

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marquise Person. 

Hi Marquise, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Well…my story starts in Sauk Village, Illinois before moving with my grandmother to Jackson,Tn when I was eight. I started writing poetry in middle school to cope with personal issues at home. In high school I was a member of the Creative Writing club and had already been featured in several anthologies and publications across the state. It wasn’t until moving to Nashville in 2011 that I actually took being “a poet” seriously. I have to credit that to Imani Rhema of Soul Food Poetry Cafe and Jay Pierson from Word Up! Collective for grooming me into the artist I am today. Known to most as “M-Dot da Poet”, I became a liaison for Carpe Artists in Smyrna, Tn and started hosting open mics monthly while traveling and sharing my craft out of state. In 2015, I launched “A Night with da Poet & Friends” as a live open mic series to provide a safe space for creatives to share their art and to highlight local artist in the Middle Tennessee area. I then went on to be a key feature in three successful volumes of “Poetry in Motion Live” produced by Watkins Production before stepping away from the scene entirely to spend more time with my daughter. In 2019, I joined “Po’boys n Poets” as a mentor and liaison to the next generation of poets to hit the stage. Nowadays, I’m pursuing a career in acting and scriptwriting while exploring the music around me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No…not at all. However, I was fortunate to have a strong support system of friends and family behind and beside me to help me push through the rough patches. Challenges? Well…I would have to say gaining respect for my craft would have to be the biggest challenge I’ve had to face as well as anxiety. I used to avoid the spotlight. Believe it or not, I’ve never been one to strive off seeking attention. It wasn’t until stepping away from “the stage” that I realized how much I needed it for therapeutic reasons. I’m more at peace when I’m able to freely live my craft.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I draw. I paint. I enjoy singing, but I’m best known for my poetry. Im hoping to get a chance to display more of my art and talents outside of poetry going forward.  I’m most proud of the art I haven’t created yet.

What are your plans for the future?
The future? Honestly…I’m hoping to go back to finish school. I dropped out the first time to do what I did. Now, I’m hoping to do it all again on a bigger scale as well as starting my own business to hand off to my daughter one day. The sky is the limit and I’ve already proven enough to myself to understand that the future can be whatever I choose it to be. I’m taking it one day at a time.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://unitedmasters.com/m/603c50d48333261dca7fd15b
• Instagram: Simplymdot
• Facebook: Simplymdot
• Twitter: Simplymdot
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/6edfl3AxjlM
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/uDTwuSb8k2zths3Q7