Poetry

We are moving to a new platform and will be only running the new platform in 2025. please signup here: [https://www.downtomeet.com/Melbourne-Writers](https://www.downtomeet.com/Melbourne-Writers) This is the time to write whatever it is you want to write. \-\-\-\-\-\> IMPORTANT <\-\-\-\-\-\-\- We ask for the Nook which is to your left as you go in, but it is not always available. Ask for the table under "Mat Clarke". Sometimes we do not have an official host, so please say hi to people as they arrive and make everyone feel welcome. Thanks. No limitations. Come along and bring your laptop or pen and paper and work on whatever you want. There are no rules :) You can write. You can chat and write. You can share your work. Or not share your work. (If you need silence to concentrate then headphones are a good idea considering it is in a cafe/bar.) Coffee, hot chocolate, etc., available to buy. Also food and drink. Please buy something to show our thanks for the space they give us free of charge. There are some people that will want to chat, but most will be writing. So bear that in mind. See you there :) \-\-\-\-\-\-Please only RSVP if you can make it\-\-\-\-\-\-\- \-\-\-\-\-\-Un\-RSVP if you need to cancel\-\-\-\-\-\-\- We're booking the area, so we will need you to turn up if you say you are coming. Thanks. Thank you, Melbourne Writers. Great Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelbWriters Website: www.worldwriterscollective.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelbCityWriters Blog: http://melbournewriters.wordpress.com **Help us by adding to these social pages and site**

## ✨ KISMETRIX \| True Connection [Ticked Event](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/all-events/?event=26306) ### The Valhalla \| Elegant Singles Night Hosted by **KISMETRIX \| True Connection** 📍 **Valhalla Bar (Basement, Olderfleet Building)** 477 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 📅 **Saturday, 14 March** 🕖 **7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Hosted)** (Venue open late) ### AN ELEGANT SATURDAY NIGHT FOR THOSE WHO PREFER DEPTH OVER NOISE Hidden beneath the iconic Olderfleet Building lies **Valhalla** — a Scandinavian-inspired underground bar where atmosphere, design and conversation take centre stage. This is our **Elegant Singles Night** — a refined Saturday social for those who want real conversation, good energy, and connection that unfolds naturally. No swiping. No forced rotations. No loud, chaotic party crowd. Just confident adults showing up — in real life. ### 👥 AGE GROUPS [(TICKETED)](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/all-events/?event=26306) To create a balanced, comfortable room, tickets are released across two overlapping age groups: • **30–48** • **38–60** Guests receive coloured name tags on arrival to help our hosts support thoughtful introductions early in the evening. As the night progresses, the room naturally opens into relaxed, free-flowing mingling. This structure keeps the atmosphere elegant, social and effortless — without pressure. ### 💫 ABOUT THE EVENT Tired of dating apps that go nowhere? Over speed dating that feels like an interview? So were we. KISMETRIX \| True Connection was created for singles who want something more human — real presence\, real conversation\, and genuine chemistry\. You’ll walk into a room full of people who: * Are done with endless chatting and ghosting * Want to meet face-to-face, not behind a screen * Value depth, respect and good energy * Care about how they show up — socially and emotionally Come for a drink. Stay for the conversation. Leave glad you came. ### 🎯 WHO THIS NIGHT IS FOR This event is for singles who: * Prefer substance over surface * Enjoy meaningful conversation and elegant social settings * Are emotionally mature and socially aware * Want a great Saturday night — regardless of outcomes Come solo or with friends — many do. ### 🍷 THE VIBE Expect: * A moody, intimate underground bar setting * Nordic-inspired design and refined ambience * Hosted support early, free flow later * An elegant, socially aware crowd * **Happy Hour drink specials available at the bar** Think less “dating event” — more **a Collins Street Saturday night done properly**. ### 🎟 TICKETS & INCLUSIONS Get your ticket [HERE](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/all-events/?event=26306) Your ticket includes: * Entry to the curated **KISMETRIX Elegant Singles Night** * Hosted support throughout the evening * A thoughtfully balanced social experience Drinks and small plates are available for purchase directly from Valhalla, with **Happy Hour specials** offered during the event. 🎫 Tickets are limited to maintain quality, balance and atmosphere. Early booking is strongly recommended. ### ✅ WHY PEOPLE LOVE KISMETRIX EVENTS * No apps. No swiping. Just real people * No scripts or awkward structures * Thoughtful curation without rigidity * A genuinely enjoyable night — even if you attend solo * Many guests come “just for a drink” … and end up staying all night ### 🔔 [BOOK NOW](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/all-events/?event=26306) Spaces are limited to maintain the energy and quality of the room. **Refund Policy:** Tickets are non-refundable. If you can no longer attend, you’re welcome to transfer your ticket to someone else in the same age group. ## **🔗 Stay Connected with Kismetrix \| True Connection** Love this event? We run a variety of experiences to help people meet and connect in meaningful ways. 📧 **social@kismetrix.com.au** 🌐 **[www.kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")** 📱 Follow us on **[Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/ "https://www.instagram.com/kismetrix_/"), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523 "https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559826808523") & [Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/kismetrix-singles-events-84848288353 "https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/kismetrix-singles-events-84848288353")** 📄 \*\*Important Notice:\*\*By registering for this event\, you confirm that you have read and agree to Kismetrix \| True Connection’s[ Terms & Conditions](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/terms-and-conditions-2/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/terms-and-conditions-2/"),[ Privacy Policy](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/privacy-policy/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/privacy-policy/"),[ Disclaimer](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/disclaimer/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/disclaimer/") and [Code of Conduct](https://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct/ "https://www.kismetrix.com.au/code-of-conduct/").Some events may be non-refundable as stated in their individual descriptions.🤝 Collaborations: **collabs@kismetrix.com.au**

This event is dedicated to Theo Angelopoulos and his two masterpieces, Landscape in the Mist and Weeping Meadow. Remember to watch the films before coming and we will have an insightful discussion about them. Our topics include but not limited to how he manipulates time, the effects of the long take, social commentary in his films, and the juxtaposition of music and image.

We'll meet at the spot where Fed Square meets the Princes Bridge over the Yarra (near the pedestrian crossing closest to the river from Flinders St, on the Fed Square side). We'll walk for about 6km along the Yarra River, through the Botanic Gardens and back along the river to Federation Square for a coffee after the walk. This month, we're reading and talking about 'The Emperor of Gladness' by Ocean Vuong The blurb: "**Ocean Vuong returns with an achingly beautiful novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.** One late summer evening in the post-industrial town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on the edge of a bridge in pelting rain, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia, who convinces him to take another path. Bereft and out of options, he quickly becomes her caretaker. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond, one built on empathy, spiritual reckoning, and heartbreak, with the power to alter Hai’s relationship to himself, his family, and a community at the brink. Following the cycles of history, memory, and time, *The Emperor of Gladness* shows the profound ways in which love, labor, and loneliness form the bedrock of American life. At its heart is a brave epic about what it means to exist on the fringes of society and to reckon with the wounds that haunt our collective soul. Hallmarks of Vuong’s writing – formal innovation, syntactic dexterity, and the ability to twin grit with grace through tenderness – are on full display in this story of loss, hope, and how far we would go to possess one of life’s most fleeting mercies: a second chance." Goodreads rating: 3.93 How does a walking bookclub work? Like a normal bookclub, we talk about the book, what else we're reading, have read, or want to read (as well as a few tangents into life outside literature!) but we do it while walking around Melbourne and then over a coffee. We often split into smaller groups as we walk, but we also regroup through the walk. Should I read the book beforehand? The conversation will be more interesting if you do, but you can still come along if you haven't finished it yet! Do I need to bring anything? **Comfy** walking shoes, drinking water, some money for coffee or a bite to eat after if you wish. No need to bring the book unless you want to. No shows No shows (RSVPing yes and not attending) mean the group waits unnecessarily for those who are not coming, thinking you are running a little late. It’s absolutely fine to change your rsvp for any reason up until the walk begins, and you don’t need to leave a comment, send a message or give a reason, but if you don't click that 'change rsvp' button, you may be removed from the group. Membership Fee Did you know that while it is free to attend most events, Meetup charges organisers about $600 a year to organise a group? Members of the Walking Book Club are asked to pay a membership fee of $10 per year (not per event) to help cover this cost. When you join the group, you'll be automatically given a three month trial so you can see what the group is like, without needing to make any payment. If you would like to continue attending events after this, please follow Meetup's instructions to pay the $6.50US/approx $10AUD fee once per year (or contact group organisers if you would prefer to make payment using paypal, payID, cash or bank transfer).

Take a break from the busy week and join us for a relaxing evening of nature, connection, and music in Melbourne. Slow down, meet new people, and enjoy the city together as the sun sets. 🌿✨ **Highlights & Activities** 🧺 **Picnic & light snacks** at Royal Botanic Gardens (4:30–5:30 PM) 🚶 **Mindfulness walk** through the beautiful gardens 🌇 **City stroll** together towards Federation Square 🎶 **Free outdoor opera concert** at Fed Square (6:30–8:00 PM) **Bring along:** 🥨 Snacks to share 💧 Water bottle 🧺 Picnic mat or blanket (optional) A simple and relaxing social evening to enjoy nature, good conversations, and live music. Come unwind with us! ✨ **Bondaroo** **Community Rules** ✨ * This is a rain-or-shine event. * 18+ only. * Maintain respect and no unsolicited contact. * No advertising and selling during the event. * Adherence to the liability waiver is mandatory: [Read here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKqVIMcXMFdzvpjqO3KRf_uQ5xAzd-jt/view?usp=sharing) * By attending this event, you are consent to our media policy: [Read here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rgNOcewZs-tKYUEBt3gV84hob1HdDXydjrGf_tEiXjQ/edit?usp=sharing)

A social run following a mystery trail of chalk and flour from beer back to beer. Runners and walkers welcome. Run: 7-9Km. Walk: 3-4Km. Hares: Maggot & Dripping Wet Location: Urban Alley, Docklands

Dance under the sky at Open Air Disco in Coburg Lake Reserve — feel-good grooves, community vibes & sunset magic. **What to expect** Open Air Disco is a joyful outdoor dance gathering at Coburg Lake Reserve, designed for music lovers who want to move, connect, and enjoy great tunes in a relaxed, welcoming space. Expect an uplifting soundtrack of disco, soul, funky classics and feel-good grooves — the kind of music that keeps you dancing without pressure or pretence. This isn’t a hard nightclub vibe; it’s a friendly, community-focused atmosphere where everyone is welcome. Bring a picnic rug, bring friends (or come solo and meet new ones), enjoy the park setting, and let the music carry you from chilled afternoon energy into a vibrant open-air dancefloor. Whether you stay for an hour or the whole session, Open Air Disco is about simple things done well: good music, open skies, and shared moments on the dancefloor. DJ SLD curates crate digging, genre-blending, groove-driven, non-mainstream sets. A Melbourne based DJ with over 30 years of experience behind the decks, he is dedicated to all things funky — where classic records meet modern reworks, warped edits meet timeless vocals, and every mix is built to create atmosphere, not just noise. Expect smooth transitions, slow jams, late-night energy, and a playful touch of personality woven through sophisticated, dancefloor-ready selections.

**CERES Community Park – Merri River Trail** It’s time we explored a new trail! So this week we are heading over to Brunswick and will walk the Merri River Trail. The **CERES Community and Environmental Park** is on the banks of the Merri River and the trail runs alongside the Merri River. We walk as far as Bell Street, then back for coffee at the Merri Café. **Start:** CERES Park, corner of **Roberts and Stewart Streets**, Brunswick East. Meet just inside the gate. Look for the red umbrella! **Start time:** 9.00 AM **Parking:** There is parking at the CERES Park. But if it is crowded, park anywhere in the surrounding streets. Allow 10 minutes to walk back to the START. **The Walk**: The walk follows the Merri Creek north to Bell Street, Brunswick then back the same trail to the start. **Total distance**: 5.0 km. (approx.) **Time:** Allow 2.0 hours for the walk, plus half hour for coffee. Total 2.5 hours. **Difficulty:** Easy **Toilets:** At the start. **Coffee:** Merri Café located adjacent to the visitor centre.

Sunday Evening Meditation 5.30 to 6.30pm Join us in our cosy centre in Carlton North. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner you are welcome at these relaxed and informal sessions. Simple instructions are provided and you can sit in a chair or on a cushion. Masks optional but not mandated. Bring your own sealed drink bottle. $10 for workers or $5 for concession. Find out about our activities. Incense and other dharma books and items for sale 803 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. Website: https://melbourne.rigpa.org.au/

Namaste, healer. It's time to light up the third chakra. It's our energetic engine room — the place where confidence, willpower, and personal strength all come together. And when it's humming, life just flows better. Hence, our Reiki Solar Plexus Chakra Healing Night. Come along and we'll do powerful meditations and group healing to strengthen it. Among other things, the solar plexus chakra is essential for: * Confidence (so you can back yourself and step into your power) * Willpower (so you can follow through on what matters to you) * Healthy self-esteem (so you value yourself without needing outside validation) * Good digestion — both physical and emotional (so you can process life's experiences more easily) * A strong sense of identity (so you know who you are and can stand firm in it) So come and join us for a powerful practice night and leave feeling energetically fired up and emotionally centred. Hope to see you there! Jeremy ## Time to Expand Your Reiki with Pellowah Healing? Pellowah is the **yin to Reiki's yang.** High-vibrational healing energy. Incredible symbols. Potent chakra meditations. Expanded consciousness. You'll be surprised by how much it expands your healing abilities. To find out more about our upcoming March 27-28 **Pellowah healing** course, [click here](http://www.pellowah.net.au/pellowah-courses.html).

Come along to Andrew's birthday karaoke with dinner at 7pm (both optional) at Customs House Hotel Williamstown. So first part is optional dinner. Table is booked under Andrew Goodwin and my number is 0424453134 if anybody needs to contact me. Here is a copy of the menu. [https://www.customshousehotel.com.au/eat](https://www.customshousehotel.com.au/eat) Then after optional dinner there is optional karaoke. Best to come through a bit before karaoke starts to write down a song or two or more before 9pm to make sure you get in a song or two basically if you're singing. PLEASE NOTE SINGING IS TOTALLY OPTIONAL AND YOU CAN SING AS MANY SONGS AS YOU LIKE (IF ANY) OR JUST CHOOSE TO WATCH ON ALL NIGHT. YOU WILL NOT BE PRESSURED INTO SINGING BASICALLY ANYWAY. IN REALITY WHAT HAPPENS IS SOME PEOPLE WILL NEVER SING BUT SOME OTHERS SEE OTHERS SINGING AND DECIDE TO SING ANYWAY EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T NORMALLY SING. SO THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF IT ALL. #### Karaoke hosted by T.D.K.S Entertainment **9pm till late** Let your hair down & be the star! Run by awesome fun loving girls. Over 38,000 songs updated regularly. Event cohosted by Martin Carr. Plenty of parking around and about a 5 minute walk from Williamstown Station and the trains run all night so a good option if you like a few light refreshments. PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS ON MULTIPLE GROUPS.

Ayya Yeshe is a visiting nun from the Buddhist tradition. From the Open Sangha website - “Ayya Yeshe Bodhicitta is a Buddhist nun of 21 years, a teacher, contemplative and feminist activist. Ayya is the founder and director of Bodhicitta Foundation, a socially engaged Buddhist charity and girl’s home working to empower ex “untouchable” Ambedkarite people and poor women and children in Central India. Ayya teaches internationally and is the Abbess of Bodhicitta Dakini Buddhist Monastery, Tasmania, Australia. Ayya is the author of “Everyday Enlightenment” published by Harper Collins and has 100k hits on youtube as a sacred chants artist on the album “Dakini.” Ayya trained mainly in Tibetan Buddhism, but was fully ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh and stayed in Theravada monasteries for many years. Ayyas teachers are the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh and Bhante Sujato. She practices a fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and early Buddhism called the Mahayana Forest Tradition.” [www.bodhicitta-monastery.com](http://www.bodhicitta-monastery.com/) (Australia) [www.ayyayeshe.wordpress.com](http://www.ayyayeshe.wordpress.com/) [www.bodhicitta-vihara.com](http://www.bodhicitta-vihara.com/) (India) The discussion will be in Meeting Room 3 at the Kathleen Syme Library, Stefan - 0437777522

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" 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 are expanding our creative programming opportunities with Queer Quills, a quiet writing and sharing space. Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!**

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Sunday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at noon on Sundays. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 12:00 - quick intros. 12:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 1:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 1-1:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Sunday!

Back By POPULAR DEMAND The BEST Saint Patrick’s bar crawl in Columbus! We will begin our crawl at BODEGA 7:30pm 1044 North High St. 8:30pm we will be found at GOOD NIGHT JOHN BOY. 906 North High St. 9:30pm LINCOLN SOCIAL ROOFTOP. 711 North High St., 9th floor. 10:30pm BROTHERS BAR & GASWERKS. 477 North Park St. They have $1 shots that we MUST avail ourselves of Wear GREEN! Of course. BEST DRESSED will win BRAGGING RIGHTS

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.