LOVE the poet

Get to know LOVE the poet...

LOVE (Michelle A. Nelson) is a passionate poet, counselor, and teacher. A native of Columbia, MD, LOVE left her suburban surroundings to attend Coppin State University in Baltimore City, where she excelled in athletics and graduated in May of 2003, as a 4- year Honors Program Scholar. In 1999, as an undergraduate freshman, LOVE discovered the art of spoken word poetry. The discovery of this dynamic and cutting edge art form influenced LOVE to transform her affinity for writing poetry into a powerful and substantive spoken word performance, stimulating audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

LOVE has been a featured artist in the Baltimore Sun, and the Baltimore Examiner. She has appeared twice at Joe’s Place spoken word radio (WHUR 96.3), WOLB Urban Talk Radio (1010 AM), “The Signal” WYPR Radio, WEAA 88.9 Radio, Ladies Verse V & VI (presented by Poetry for the People Baltimore), host and feature of various live entertainment productions, and she is the co-creator of the “Seen But Not Heard” concert series (an all female ensemble of poets, hip- hop artists, and singers). Throughout her budding career she has worked with various artists such as: Olu Butterfly Woods, The 5thL, Jahipster, Messiah, Navasha Daya of Fertile Ground, Green Tea, Lamar Hill, and Rebecca Dupas.

A vocal advocate for at- risk youth, LOVE has been educating and counseling this population of young people for the past three years. By combining education and experience with energetic spoken word poetry, LOVE has captivated and elevated the minds of young audiences with performance and creative writing workshops.

LOVE has centered her spoken word career on social enlightenment, community outreach, and entertainment. She is the 2005 recipient of the “Ms. Poetry” People’s Poetry Award, three time National Underground Spoken Word Awards nominee (Best performer female, Community Oriented Underground Poet Award, Why didn’t I think of that poem), and she is the host of Spoken Serenity…Be Free Fridays in Baltimore, MD, an active member of Poetry for the People Baltimore (P4PB), and Founder of justLOVEpoetryink,LLC.

...So my purpose must be to release myself from all guilt and pain, listen to other poets inspire and do the same, stand on my words and appear to levitate on stage, and remember that I love to do this so display it in my name... LOVE (an excerpt from “My Purpose” on her LP entitled “Love’s Journey… It Begins” )