Poetry

**Join us in celebrating 10 years of building a poetry movement** **Would you like to be part of our 10 years poetry book and secure a spot at the open mic during the Newham Poetry Festival?** What’s included? 1.⁠ ⁠FREE co-creative poetry sessions 2.⁠ ⁠FREE tailored coaching to support your writing 3.⁠ ⁠Opportunity to be published in the anniversary book 4.⁠ ⁠Chance to perform at the festival open mic Dates Wednesdays from 13 May to 29th July 6.15 -7.45pm Stratford library (3 The Grove, E15 1EL) **Commitment Participants must attend a minimum of 9 sessions to be included in the publication and the open mic** **Register at newhampoetrygroup@gmail.com**

We will begin with a talk giving some background to the School of Sufi Teaching and our meditation practices. We will then sit together in meditation. Following this there will be an opportunity ask questions arising from your experience during the meditation. Please arrive at 7.00pm so as to benefit from the short introductory talk. Meditation will commence at 7.30pm . The session should be completed by 9.00 pm. The meditation will start promptly at 7.30 pm when the front door will be closed so as to ensure an undisturbed period of solitude. Location of Meeting **Entry is via the side door which is located in the side road between our building and the pub.** **Follow the plant containers.** 253 Globe Road London E2 0JD https://goo.gl/maps/6Ng5rhHKsLXe16jz6 Nearest Underground Station is Bethnal Green For individuals interested in learning more about Sufism, our practices and their transformational role on the individual we recommend reading **Click here** [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463) **Turning Toward the Heart: - Awakening to the Sufi Way** **Forty Questions and Answers**

Join us at Craft Beer Co. Brixton for our structured Sci-Fi & Fantasy Feedback Session. A supportive, focused space where writers can share their work and receive constructive, thoughtful critique. These sessions are designed not only to help authors refine their writing but also to strengthen our community. Giving feedback is as valuable as receiving it: by learning to critique effectively, we sharpen our own editorial instincts and deepen our understanding of craft. Whether you’re submitting work or attending as a reader, this is a collaborative, growth-focused environment. **FOR THOSE SUBMITTING WORK** **We allow up to 4 people to submit their work** **for feedback. In order to submit please RSVP your attendance, and send your submission to** **scififantasyauthors@gmail.com no later than the Friday prior to the session** to give organisers time to review submissions and arrange critique groups in advance. *Priority for submission slots is given to those who have attended a previous session.* To ensure quality and fairness, submission guidelines are as follows: * **A short introduction (2–3 paragraphs max.) explaining:** * The context and status of the piece (early draft? polished?). It must be from an unfinished, unpublished project * What kind of feedback you’re looking for * **An excerpt (chapter or short story) of up to 3,000 words** * +10% flexibility allowed * Strict cut-off beyond that **FOR THOSE PROVIDING FEEDBACK** * Please RSVP and read the “How to Give Feedback” document that will be shared prior to attending. * Bring a device suitable for reading the submitted piece * There is no expectation to read anything in advance. All reading takes place during the session itself. We begin with dedicated silent reading time, ensuring that everyone engages with the piece equally and no one feels pressure to prepare outside the session. Just show up ready to read, think, and contribute. **SCHEDULE** Attendees will be placed into small critique groups of 5–6 people, each with an experienced facilitator to guide discussion and manage time. **6:30–6:45pm** – Arrival, drinks & group seating **6:45–7:30pm** – Silent reading & note-taking **7:30–8:00pm** – Structured feedback delivery **8:00–8:30pm** – Open roundtable discussion & author questions Each participant will have up to 5 minutes to share feedback during the structured critique section. Authors listen without interruption, with space for clarifying questions later in the roundtable. Whether you’re looking to polish a chapter, test an opening, or strengthen your editorial instincts, these sessions are an opportunity to grow together. RSVP early, as places are limited to ensure productive group sizes. If you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP.

Join us for our weekly Fems and Thems Climbing Social, a welcoming space for women and non-binary climbers to connect, climb, and have fun! Whether you're new to climbing or a seasoned pro, this social is all about building a supportive community and celebrating our shared love for the sport. This is a relaxed, no-pressure environment designed to help you enjoy climbing while meeting like-minded people. Open to all women and non-binary folks aged 18 and over. Cost: £16 regular peak time entry at Bethwall Climbing centre (£2 registration fee might apply) + £4 rental shoes (chalk is provided Come solo or bring a friend – everyone is welcome! Let’s climb, chat, and share some good vibes. We can’t wait to see you there! For any questions or accessibility inquiries, feel free to contact us in advance.

A **smaller, quieter, and less rushed** edition of THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS. At TEiP DEEP, we have the chance to spend a whole hour and a half on **one thought experiment**, exploring different perspectives, coming up with new questions, listening and learning from one another. **How it works:** \- We split into small groups for each chapter of the thought experiment \(3\-4\)\. \- We shuffle every 25 mins to meet new people and change things up\. \- And at the end we'll have a brief group reflection\, sharing ideas and insights \- this will be lightly facilitated to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak if they want to \(no pressure\)\. Some simple ground rules to keep our conversation the best it can be: * respect for one another’s perspectives, beliefs, time (etc.) * confidentiality of personal stories * own your perspective * you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Our aim is the same as our bigger Thought Experiments in Pubs meetups: **a chance to meet and talk at about meaningful, thought provoking things**. Although we’ll be going a bit ‘deeper’, we’ll keep the intention to have an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun. Places are limited to 15-20 people and tickets are £5. Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend so that someone else can have your place. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality... etc. etc.... **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you :-) #inclusivity #openmindedness #deepdive #TEiPdeep #philosophy #greatconversations **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- reflections\, invitations and newsletter **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- ditto **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- everything else

You are lovingly invited to a free online gathering beneath the Alcyone Gateway. Alcyone is the Central Sun of the Pleiadian star system, and the Alcyone Gateway—held between the 19th and 21st of May—is a sacred alignment in which this Great Mother Sun aligns with our own Sun, allowing the heart and inner truth of humanity to become gently saturated with Pleiadian wisdom and light. For this gateway, the Beloved Star Mothers will channel through Kahreela An-Ra, offering a gentle teaching and activation on Field Manifestation. This is a soothing transmission on bringing more beauty into your orbit of manifestation by learning how to receive with love. The Alcyone Gateway is the second gateway within a trinity of May Gateways, and each of these sacred thresholds offers an opportunity to propel yourself into greater flow. The first gateway opens through healing. The second opens through dreaming. The third opens through enlightening. This year, these gates are opening through the body, which is why many people are experiencing intense physical sensations and purges. Spirit says this offering will help to ease the body out of healing and into dreaming, as the light of your field becomes fertile… This transmission will also include a reflection on the Legend of Alcyone and how this story can nurture our lives. This offering is gifted to you with love from Kahreela and the Star Mothers. SIGN UP: [https://www.starlight-temple.com/event-details/a-free-transmission-from-the-star-mothers](https://www.starlight-temple.com/event-details/a-free-transmission-from-the-star-mothers)

IN PERSON EVENT - POETRY EVENING WITH BARNABY TOBIAS AND IAIA CHIESA **Join us in the bookshop on the third Thursday of every month for the sharing of poems; either yours or another’s you admire. There will be some discussion around the poem and short tea break halfway through.** **Iaia is a poet and activist, who’s published several volumes of poetry.** **Barnaby is an actor and playwright, who’s worked for Netflix, RSC and written plays to critical acclaim.** **Drop in event with no need to book.** **Cash donations are welcome.** **More Information:** **rsh-bookshop@anth.org.uk** This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain.

Dear Poetry enthusiasts, Newham Poetry Group focuses on amplifying marginalised voices, supporting young locals, LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants and people from the global majority. We know poetry has the potential to change not only individuals' lives but also communities. **Full programme** available at [www.newhampoetrygroup.com](http://www.newhampoetrygroup.com/). We have a maximum capacity of 20 participants per session, so book early to secure your spot. **Event details** Location: The Gate Library, 6-8 Woodgrange Road, E7 0QH Date: Every Thursday Time: 6:15 pm - 7:45 pm Our sessions are free of charge. However, we welcome donations. Light refreshments are provided. We look forward to welcoming you to our poetry sessions and creating meaningful experiences together.

This is our Beehive Poetry Club meet-up. This is a space to both read poetry that we have felt inspired by and also a chance to have a go at writing something or having a go at a technique. Roughly each week will look like the following: 13.30 - Arrive for coffee + intoduction 13.40 - Poetry reading (anything you may have written or enjoyed reading) 14.20 - coffee break 14.30 Free write or writing activity 15.30 - finish

YOU CAN ALSO BOOK DIRECTLY AT OUR SITE: https://www.writeandpint.com/events/day-of-poetry-a-full-day-of-creative-writing-food-drinks-a-free-book ... Hi there ✨ Whoever you are, you're warmly invited to join us for a full-day poetry workshop ✍️ with food & drink 🍴☕🍷, a pub quiz 🧠, and plenty of space to say something true, something strange, something yours 🌿 Together, we'll be writing poetry, one of the oldest, strangest, and most surprisingly honest ways we have of telling the truth about being alive. From Ted Hughes to **Sylvia Plath**, to **Sonia Sanchez**, **Pablo Neruda**, **Rainer Maria Rilke**, **Stanley Kunitz**, **Claudia Rankine** and **Ocean Vuong**, poetry keeps showing up, and keeps telling the truth. This day isn't just about reading or analysing those poets (though we'll do a little of that). We'll also be having our own go at writing new poems, using three ideas as our lens: **nature, city life, and the inner self**. By the end of the day, you'll leave with some fresh drafts, images, and lines to take home and develop in your own time. **What do we mean by Day of Poetry? 🤔** We'll be writing through three territories that poets have always returned to: * **Nature -** What does the organic world outside us reveal about the world within? * **City life -** How do we find language for the crowd, the commute, the stranger on the platform...? * **The inner self -** Exploring grief, longing, memory, wonder, what are we carrying, and what happens when we put it into words? We'll read short extracts from some of the poets named above, then use them as springboards for our own guided writing exercises. No dogma. No right answers. Just curiosity, attention, and honest language. 🌿 **So, what's the plan? 🗓️** * Arrive at Finch's Pub for teas/coffees ☕ and a gentle warm-up writing session ✍️ * Settle into reading, conversation, supported exploration, and lots more writing 💬 * Break for lunch 🥗 at the pub * Dive back in for an afternoon of deeper writing and creative experiments 🌀 **What's included? 🎁** * A full day of poetry workshops & exercises ✨ * Tea or coffee to start ☕ * Lunch at Finch's Pub 🥗 * A drink of your choice in the afternoon 🍻🍷🥤 * A free Penguin mini modern classic book! * Thoughtful literary handouts 📄 **What do you need to bring? 🎒** * Yourself 🙌 * A pen & pad 🖊️📓 (or a laptop 💻 if you prefer) **Our style 🌱** We create a friendly, supportive, and inclusive atmosphere 💜 Everybody is welcome. No experience necessary 🌈 There's no pressure to share or perform in front of the group 🙅 You can take part quietly, actively, or anywhere in between. If you have any doubts or questions, feel free to text me on 📱 +44 (0) 7534 981 636 and I'll do my best to help. Warm wishes 🌞, Sean (A Write & a Pint)

Join us at the top of the biggest bookshop in Europe to work in company on your own writing, be it a book, blog, screenplay, dissertation, poem, song, coursework, memoir, play, journal, travel writing, work stuff or anything else. Newcomers always welcome. No one will see what you're writing or give you unsolicited advice. Now that our regular Saturday events are filling all the seats we're adding some Sundays when we're able to - check Meetup for dates. Same format but an hour later. WHERE? FIFTH FLOOR CAFÉ, Floor 5, Waterstones, 203-206 Piccadilly, W1J 9LE TIMINGS:- 12.00 - Shop and café open 12:30 - Host will be there. Say hello, especially if you’re new. 12.40 - Brief introductions from everybody - your name and what you’re working on 12:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 13:30 – Break, chat to your neighbours if you like 13:45 - Timer starts: write for 45 minutes 14:30 - The End…feel free to stay and keep writing or chat some more. Bring whatever you need to be able to write. It’s a café, there’s some noise so earbuds/headphones/earplugs are handy. There’s very few mains sockets so charged-up laptops are a good idea too. And please remember everybody, thank our venue by buying a drink or food, and don’t consume anything from outside while you're here. We’re looking forward to writing with you, your hosts, Sarah, Nick, Laura, Anna, Solitaire and John

Join us for Pink Ink - our LGBTQ+ creative writing support group! Pink Ink offers a safe writing space to all LGBTQ+ people to come together to write, share and discuss work. Each workshops will offer up 2-3 creatives writing exercises in a a fun sociable setting - refreshments, snacks and an opportunity to chat about writing, poetry, authors and a whole lot more! Our January workshops will also include a poetry exercise which will support any creative writers looking to enter the LGBT Swichboard [Poetry Competition ](https://switchboard.lgbt/switchboard-news-poetry-comp/) Every 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month 7-9pm 86 Caladonian Rd

**We will be at The Mitre pub in central Greenwich.** This meetup is free and casual. We just sit around for a few hours and write together. Bring a laptop, or use a pen and paper or clay tablet and stylus if that's what works for you. The structure of the session is roughly: 2pm: chat 2:20–3:25: writing time 3:25: chat/coffee break 3:40–4:45 writing time 4:45: chat But our Saturdays are very casual, so feel free to drop in and out. **This is usually in the meeting room at the Mitre. If you arrive a bit later, you may need to ask the bar staff to show you through to the room.**

The topic for May is "Ink" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

We'll get in around 4 miles at Three Creeks Metro Parks, primarily natural trails. 17-18 minute miles, no one left behind, and faster walkers are free to lead out. Optional lunch after! If you're joining for hiking all the metro parks, this is the sixth one!

Join us as we get together to see Paul Rudd in the latest comedy-drama-musical from John Carney, POWER BALLAD! The film follows a washed-up wedding singer, a fading boy band singer and a stolen hit song. Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Rick, a washed-up wedding singer, and Danny, a fading boy band star, bond over music and a late-night jam session. When Danny turns Rick's song into a hit, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves. Power Ballad is written/directed by John Carney, the master of the modern musical and creative mind behind Once, Begin Again and Sing Street! It stars Paul Rudd, Nick Jonas, Peter McDonald, Marcella Plunkett, Havana Rose Liu and Jack Reynor. BUZZ & ACCLAIM: The film premiered to rave reviews at this year’s Dublin International Film Festival where critics call it “a sure-fired crowd-pleaser” that “just might be the feel-good hit of the year!” Others say, “Paul Rudd delivers a career-best performance in this charmer” that’s both “hilarious and deeply moving!” SUMMER OF ICE CREAM, VOL 2: SHAKE NO. 8! Ranked the #1 Ice Cream Shop in Columbus in 2024, this is the perfect place to kick off our Summer of Ice Cream and grab a sweet treat after the show! Their menu features an array of traditional, specialty and vegan shakes, hot cocoa, and more! You can check out their full menu here: [https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php](https://www.shakeno8.com/menu.php) PLAN: We’ll plan for a 7pm-ish showing and will meet in the lobby area about 20 minutes before the show. Once showtime is announced, advance ticket purchase is advised! Once you have yours, please list your seat number in the Comments section of this event. We'll head to nearby Shake No. 8 immediately following the show! Should be a fun one, Dan

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.