It’s all about getting poetic

If you are fond of writing poems or listening to others’ verses, why not join one of these city-based poetry groups?

Started in October last year by Nihaal Parashar, 24, theatre activist, the group is meant to bring poetry lovers together. “Since poetry is born out of meeting new people and experiences, we decided to name our group ‘Mulaqaat’,” says Parashar. Attended by about 40-50 people, a usual Mulaqaat session goes on for four to five hours but can also stretch up to seven hours. The members can only share original poems written by them in any language, as long as they can explain it to others. Lots of members also sing their poems to the tunes of a guitar. By the end of the session, the members often start talking in rhymes or tukbandi to each other.Moonweavers- Chand Ke JulaaheThis bilingual poetry group takes inspiration from the importance of the Moon in poetry. It was started by Rati Agnihotri, a television script writer, last year. The group meets for an informal poetic discourse between eight to 10 members every fortnight. The members are free to share verses written by them or other poets they like and discuss the writing styles. At the end of the month, there is an open night where members read their original works. When: Every alternate Sunday; 5.30pm to 7.30pmWhere: India Coffee House, Regal Building, Connaught PlaceNext poetic discourse: May 20Group: Moonweavers-Chand ke Julaahe on Facebook

CaferatiIt started its open mic sessions for people to share their poetry in Delhi last year. The group now holds a meeting in Delhi and Gurgaon every month. Anybody interested in performing on stage can come 15 minutes prior to the session and write their names on a white board. There is no prior registration required. Each person gets two to three minutes to share their poetry or prose. When and where: 7pm, last Friday of the month at India Habitat Centre; 6.30pm, second Saturday of the month at Epicentre, Sector 44, GurgaonGroup: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caferati.habitat/

Lump in the throatThis group has been inspired by American poet Robert Frost’s famous couplet — ‘A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a home-sickness, a love sickness.’ The members meet every fortnight and start with creating collaborative poems and then move on to using an object or emotion to prompt a poetry writing session. “The exercise of passing the notebook as everyone writes a line to create a joint poem is fun,” says Prachi Gangwani, 25, who started the group last year. Members read their poems at the end of the session. When: Every fortnightNext: 5pm onwards on May 19Where: Deer Park, Hauz Khas Village, DelhiGroup: www.facebook.com/pages/Lump-In-The-Throat-LITTs

Delhi PoetreeStarted by poet laureate Amit Dahiyabadshah in 2004, Delhi Poetree honours young contemporary poets. The group holds approximately 30 sessions a month around Delhi and NCR. It is open to poets who care share up to three poems written by them at a particular session. Poetry enthusiasts can also observe a poetry session free of cost. A game where poets have to create a poem on a topic given by the audience is a hit with the members. When: 4pm onwards on last Sunday of the month Where: Hauz Khas VillageGroup: swww.facebook.com/Mulaqaat