We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Will Davis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Will, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Thinking back there’s a chapter of my story that begins within the same chaos and “what is this?” context of the pandemic. In my opinion we’re reeling and still trying to find our footing 3 years later. For sure there are people who are progressing a little smoother than others but when all is still and minds have a chance to process, I bet we find ourselves “back there”. During the pandemic I realized that I wanted to speak into the chaos in the minds and hearts of people because I too needed a word to settle the storm of my emotional and spiritual seas. Anxiousness and trying to keep the status quo wasn’t working and I believe that was a reason for a global pandemic. The world needed a reset, the world needed to see how connected we are and yet how broken our relationships are and this was the only way for us to realize the state of humanity. I decided to use poetry to be a healing balm, for my words to continue tearing down oppressive systems, with my social justice pieces or freeing those in the bondages of lies, like my pieces on self-worth and body image. My story is to inspire dignity through poetry, to be a poetic apothecary because we all have intrinsic worth.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
In the context of this interview I proudly wear the title of poet. I state it this way because for a few years as a writer and writer of poetry I didn’t know how to embrace this part of who I was and if I “needed permission” by means of publishing or being well known to be considered an actual poet, those days and that mindset have long passed. I write poetry that inspires dignity, I write poetry that lifts and speaks into myself and others with the hopes that they see themselves as being worth eternity. I also write to reframe mindsets on a range of topics, its about freedom and being seen. Three things poetry has lead me to which I’d like to mention in this interview. The first began when I worked in public education. I started a program at a Charleston County School called “Eastside Scribes”. The school is in a prominent black community on the east side of Charleston that gets caught in the middle of a lot of political and historical drama to put it succinct and even that doesn’t capture the issues. Regardless, I wanted to pour into my students through the arts and show them that poetry and the arts could elevate their voices, their concerns and inevitably change their community. We read poetry, wrote poetry and created visual art by nature of how poetry spoke to them but the whole program was to lift their voices and help them understand that they had a voice. Though I am no longer in public education I have been asked to visit other schools and run sessions, I also have poetry workshops for adults in English and Spanish. The second leading of poetry is in progress, a book based on poetic-journalism as I call it. I am involved in social justice, community building and building platforms so not only are voices heard but people are seen. This led me to serving at the Southern Border and working along side migrants; asyulm-seekers not just from Central and South America but Haitians, Cubans Ukranians and Russians. Because of this chapter in my life I have done a ton of writing trying to capture the migrant story and plight, with the hopes of changing the narrative on immigration, asylum-seeking, refugees and helping the sojourner. I want to get this poetry book, with pictures and art published sometime this year. All of this brings us to the third leading by poetry, a place to house my voice, poetry, art, consulting, workshops, open-mics and serving under one umbrella. This year I am broadening my platform and building into other poets and creatives by creating safe spaces that elevate local voices, places to share their stories and lives with the greater community so I launched Pegasus & Papyrus, LLC. The mission of Pegasus &Papyrus is to instill inspiration into society through poetry and creative arts. I’m a nerd for symbolic pieces so when I created the name and logo I wanted it to be layered in meaning. The Pegasus represents, poetry, wisdom and inspiration but it also represents the duality of spiritual and physical beings. Papyrus is the ancient raw material for which the Egyptians created paper from, so let us get back to some basics but creative basics that change the way people can communicate. Lastly, Ill give you some insight into my pen name which is, “Tethered Wrds” when I chose this name I wanted people to understand that my words are connected to something greater and greater yet connected to you the reader.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
In the age of Social Media and Influencers there is a tension of content creating and output for the sake of being known but also personal health. We give of ourselves at the expense of ourselves and we are not mutually benefitting each other–the consumer mentality leads us to abusing or manipulating one or more parties. Why do I say this, aside from the obvious and I love social media but if you looked at my IG and Tik Tok accounts I may have a few hundred followers and my engagement isn’t “wow-ing” if you will, I’m not a blue check influencer but I’m still, if I can say this humbly, known in my community and found by others because of others. This very interview is proof of that, someone else put me on, used their connections and platforms to build into me and share about who I am. All that to say, what helped build my reputation in the arts and poetry is authenticity, relationships and the drive to be there for my community. I am all about relationships and building into others because I believe when you infuse society with common good and sharing stories we all benefit, my story for your story and then becomes our story thus weaving into the wonder and fabric of humanity. I dont want to be an influencer for influence sake but to speak life into others, relationships are critical in the arts.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
To reiterate and solidify the mission in my creative journey, it is to inspire dignity, to inspire dignity through poetry and story telling. In everything I say and do I want people to have a safe space and freeing space for their stories to be shared and heard for true collaboration to flourish. I’ll say it this way, “stories build societies, stories fortify communities, stories create connections, stories tear down strongholds & barriers within the heart thus compelling even warriors to drop arms and embrace strangers as kin, so tell me your story”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tetheredwrdspoetry
- Other: @tetheredwrdspoetry on TikTok
Image Credits
Poetry&Pancakes: Trenise Elmore Pastor, Poet: Ralph Mancini