The Lover & The Sword
A poetry series giving the community a voice
Local poet-organizers Travis Kyng and Antino Art transformed RUMAH into a poetry hub through their event series, The Lover & The Sword.
On February 14th, 2025, over 40 people gathered for the second installment of the open mic style poetry event at RUMAH, organized and hosted by Travis Kyng & Antino Art. This time, the theme was love. The event was advertised as being about “all aspects of love…this one is for the lovers, the heartbreakers, the cavaliers, the anti-lovers, and the lonely. This one is for us.”
One attendee described the event as “dripping with humanity. The artists' raw, provocative, erotic, and biting words pinged emotions with targeted precision and lit [the audience] up!” A RUMAH volunteer came out to support the event after having an impactful experience at the first installment back in October 2024. He said “[Travis & Antino] inspired me to write and perform. More importantly, they inspired my son and his girlfriend to write and perform that night as well. I let Travis know that he is doing more and reaching more people than he realizes. He is a kind and empathetic person that wields a surgically precise, highly effective lyrical weapon. I'm looking forward to being eviscerated at the next event.”
I reached out to Travis and Antino to hear from them in their own words why these events are so important:
“Poetry nights give the community a voice. By partnering with RUMAH for the past year on events like the Lover and the Sword, we’re empowering people to speak their truths, build connections, and inspire action.”
So…what are these events all about?
Our poetry shows at RUMAH typically feature a line-up of spoken word artists and a list of open mic performers. Open mic performers can be anyone; everyone can write. You don't have to be a "poet" to bless the mic at one of these events, and you don’t have to know anything about poetry to come out, listen, and have a meaningful experience.
Kyng and Art work with creatives from all disciplines to bring these events to life, from photographers like Lemoi Desina of ASTP Photography to visual artists, musicians, and more. People from BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other communities in the margins are especially welcome to attend.
The demand for an event series like this is evident. So far, every poetry show at RUMAH has drawn a packed, standing-room-only house. Kyng and Art have considered using the hashtag #bringyourlawnchairs.
What should a first-timer expect from this event series?
This isn’t a stuffy event - this event is about the people. You can expect lively audience participation. People snap, hoot, holler, and occasionally yell "REWIND" when poets say something the crowd loves. It's a can't-miss vibe.
When’s the next opportunity for people to check out your work?
If you missed us this time, you can hear more poetry at our next show, on Saturday, March 29 at Boxyard RTP (see flyer below). The next event at RUMAH is still TBD - stay tuned for more to come!
About the Artists & Organizers:
Travis Kyng carries his heart on his tongue and drops it into the mic with the force of the ocean. He’s the founder of Den Meets the Throne poetry and author of 20 for 20.
Antino Art writes ad copy to feed his daughter and poetry to feed his spirit. He's the Co-Director of Poetry at Boxyard RTP and the author of Postcards From Nowhere, now available from Bottlecap Press.
A special thanks to photographer Lemoi Desina for capturing these amazing photos from the event. Check them out on Instagram at @astp_photography.
Bottom Line: It's said that poetry is how we heal one another. Through each RUMAH event, Kyng and Art hope to give our community the space to do it.
Your support helps make community events like this possible! Donating to RUMAH means keeping The Hub doors open and the space accessible for community members to host events that bring us together.