Charlie Dorsey, a founder of Transpoetic Playground and graduate student in speech communication, performs poetry Monday during Transcending Transgressions, a spoken word open mic event at Global Gourmet. Transpoetic Playground, a group of area poets, partnered with the SIU theater department in light of the Feb. 21-24 production “For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf” to present the night’s theme of women’s abuse, hope and healing. Dorsey said themes are interesting because they can help fuel a poet’s inspiration. “The best part about our open mic nights is sharing and knowing that people are there to listen to whatever it is you’re sharing,” Dorsey said.

Photo taken by TIFFANY BLANCHETTE| DAILY EGYPTIAN