Marcus Emel is a poet, performer, and storyteller based in Alexandria, Virginia, building a living archive through language, rhythm, and ritual. Founder of House of Emel, Marcus creates work that holds space for beauty, breath, memory, and truth — the grit and grace of life. He is the author of five books of poetry, with work that draws from a deep lineage of Black artistry, oral tradition, and unapologetic self-expression. GRIT is the latest chapter in an ongoing project of voice and body — made for those who walk between the sacred and the raw. Welcome to the House.