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caferati.bsky.social
Caferati
@caferati.bsky.social
57 followers 44 following 35 posts
Caferati is a platform for writers. We have had online forums and message boards, city chapters that meet in person, open mics, and listings for writing opportunities.

Account currently managed by @zigzackly.bsky.social
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
Share your poetry books!
zigzackly.bsky.social Peter Griffin @zigzackly.bsky.social · Oct 4
I was scouring shelves, cabinets and cartons for my poetry books, and here is what I found. Not all of them, but most.
Which ones have you read?
Perhaps you can share your collection?
(The pile collapsed a few seconds after I took this picture.)

#Books #Poetry #AShelfieButNotOnAShelf
The image is a photograph of a teetering stack of books of various thicknesses, their spines facing the lens. The Pocket Book of Ogden Nash Candy is Dandy, Ogden Nash Poems on the Underground Nine Horses, Billy Collins The Vintage Book of Contemporary Poetry, JD McClatchy (editor) फैज़, चुनी हुई शायरी crush, Annie Zaidi (illustrated by Gynelle Alves) Triage: Casualties of Love and Sex, Margaret Mascarenhas The Collected Poems, Vikram Seth Girls are Coming Out of the Woods, Tishani Doshi The Altar of the Only World, Sharanya Manivannan Ghalib in translation, OP Kejariwal The Golden Gate, Vikram Seth Monk on a Hill, Guru Tshering Ladakhi 50 Poets, 50 Poems, Priya Sarukkai Chabria (editor) [There were two volumes but the other one is with a friend. This was printed and circulated privately, and not available in shops.] A Reluctant Survivor, Sridala Swami My Sunset Marriage, Hoshang Merchant Until the Lions, Karthika Nair Sight May Strike You Blind, Sampurna Chattarji Women Who Wear Only Themselves, Arundhathi Subramaniam Love Without A Story, Arundhathi Subramaniam When God is a Traveller, Arundhathi Subramaniam Unmappable Moves, Sampurna Chattarji Frazil, Menka Shivdasani Collected Poems, Nissim Ezekiel Collected Poems, by Gieve Patel I'll Have It Here, by Jeet Thayil View from the Web, by Anju Makhija Over & Under Ground in Paris & Mumbai, Karthika Nair Sampurna Chattarji, (with illustrations by Roshni Vyam, Joelle Jolivet) The Penguin Book of Indian Poets, Jeet Thayil (editor)
October 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
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bansalibrary.bsky.social
WE NEED MORE BOOKS FOR OUR LIBRARY
Order a book today from our Amazon Wishlist- amazon.in/hz/wishlist/... and help us keep learning alive in places where libraries are yet to reach. You can also contribute monetarily here- rzp.io/rzp/lctrEUfg or UPI- amf@hdfcbank

#SupportFreeLibrary
October 5, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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blaftrakesh.bsky.social
When I was researching my book Ghosts, Monsters, and Demons of India, I learned of a 1000-year-old myth about Roman tech being used to build killer robots to guard the Buddha's remains in Pataliputra, and a Hungarian folklorist read my book & got excited about it, & she managed to dig up a🧵(1/3)
Romanised Pali manuscript of the Lokapannati Ghosts, Monsters, and Demons of India p. 60 Bhoota Vahana Yanta Bhoota Vahana Yanta means “spirit movement machine.” The term is used for several varieties of robot drone assassins and sword-wielding machine- men mentioned in the Lokapannati, a Pali-language text written between 1000 and 1200 CE by Saddhammaghosa of Thaton, but concerning events that took place much earlier, around 500 to 200 BCE. According to the story, robots were first invented by engineers of the early Roman Republic. These robots were used for commerce, in agriculture, as a police force, and as executioners. The secret of how to build these spirit-engines was fiercely protected. If any engineer dared to take the designs out of the city, one of his own executioner robots would come after him and kill him. At that time, in Pataliputra (then in the kingdom of Magadha, now Patna in the state of Bihar), there lived a young man who had heard of the Romans’ magical androids. He became so determined to learn the secrets of their manufacture and share them with the people of Magadha that he arranged his own death. Then, on his deathbed, he vowed to be reincarnated as a Roman. This indeed took place. In his new life, the man grew up to join the Roman guild of engineers. He even married the daughter of the Master Robot-Maker, and had a son by her. Once he learned the secrets of the Bhoota Vahana Yanta, the man resolved to transfer the information back to Pataliputra. But he was well aware that now, since he was a member of the guild, he would be killed as soon as he left. So he cut a gash in his thigh, inserted the plans in his flesh, and sewed the wound back up.
October 5, 2025 at 1:21 PM
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the-book-bazaar.com
Welcome to #TBBChat. I’m Madeleine (@monstersandmaidens.bsky.social), author of Graft and Honeycomb Heart, & this week’s host. Let’s start: Tell us about yourself, and meet others!

Quote post & use the tag #TBBChat so others can find you.

Save self-promo for the outro.

#BookBazaar25
Faux neon graphic that has a border in neon purple and reads “TBB Writer’s Chat” in neon purple. White text reads “Introduce Yourself!” followed by “#TBBChat” in neon purple.
October 5, 2025 at 1:00 AM
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zigzackly.bsky.social
The city’s longest-running open mic. Free for both audience and performers.

I’m hosting tomorrow.

Registration starts on the spot at around 6:45: show up and put your name on the board. The first 20 people are guaranteed a slot.

Event starts 7:00 p.m. . Come! Bring friends. Tell others.

#BomSky
caferati.bsky.social Caferati @caferati.bsky.social · Nov 18
Since 2008, we have been hosting an open mic at Prithvi Theatre Café.
We welcome poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters, comedians.
Fourth Monday of every month, 7 p.m.
#Bombay #Bambai #Mumbai
Caferati @ Prithvi. The city’s longest-running open mic. Bring your poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction, lyrics, comedy. You get two minutes at the microphone, and if the crowd likes you, a Suleimani Chai.
September 21, 2025 at 4:33 PM
caferati.bsky.social
At Prithvi Theatre Café on Monday. @zigzackly.bsky.social is hosting this month.
Come, bring friends. Spread the word

The longest-running #OpenMic in the #MMR.
#Bombay #Mumbai #Bambai #Poetry #Storytelling #Songs #Stand-upComedy
caferati.bsky.social Caferati @caferati.bsky.social · Nov 18
Since 2008, we have been hosting an open mic at Prithvi Theatre Café.
We welcome poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters, comedians.
Fourth Monday of every month, 7 p.m.
#Bombay #Bambai #Mumbai
Caferati @ Prithvi. The city’s longest-running open mic. Bring your poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction, lyrics, comedy. You get two minutes at the microphone, and if the crowd likes you, a Suleimani Chai.
August 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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zigzackly.bsky.social
I’m hosting this session.
Come if you’re in the area and have the time?

(Like all open mics, quality is a matter of luck on the day, but Prithvi is a vibe on its own.)
caferati.bsky.social Caferati @caferati.bsky.social · Nov 18
Since 2008, we have been hosting an open mic at Prithvi Theatre Café.
We welcome poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters, comedians.
Fourth Monday of every month, 7 p.m.
#Bombay #Bambai #Mumbai
Caferati @ Prithvi. The city’s longest-running open mic. Bring your poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction, lyrics, comedy. You get two minutes at the microphone, and if the crowd likes you, a Suleimani Chai.
July 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
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blaft.bsky.social
So far Kickstarter backers of @matratype.bsky.social's INDIA STREET LETTERING book project have donated 24 copies of the book to the Free Libraries Network!

Available as an Add-On when you pledge your support!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/bla...
Free Libraries Network - India & South Asia India Street Lettering by Pooja Saxena
June 29, 2025 at 10:31 AM
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zigzackly.bsky.social
Sent out a substantial bunch of writing opportunities this weekend. Catch them all at:

groups.google.com/group/Cafera...

t.me/CaferatiList...

whatsapp.com/channel/0029...

And you can share opportunities you know about via this form: bit.ly/caf-listings...

@caferati.bsky.social
Caferati Listings
The essentials. Caferati Listings carries opportunities for writers — calls for entries and submissions to contests and anthologies...
zigzackly.blogspot.com
June 22, 2025 at 1:48 PM
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sharanyamanivannan.bsky.social
I recall being floored by a prose poem called "Husband" many years ago, and I want to read it again. It was by an Asian-American writer, possibly queer. Can you help me find it, please?
June 18, 2025 at 6:03 AM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
Listen to me as one listens to the rain,
not attentive, not distracted,
light footsteps, thin drizzle,
water that is air, air that is time,
the day is still leaving,
the night has yet to arrive,

As One Listens to the Rain, by Octavio Paz. Read by Jincy Varghese.
As One Listens to the Rain, by Octavio Paz
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
April 22, 2025 at 6:16 PM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
Treat a poem like dirt,
humus rich and heavy from the garden.
Later on it will become the fat tomatoes
and golden squash piled high upon your kitchen table

How to Read a Poem: Beginner's Manual, by Pamela Spiro Wagner. Read by Neha Kudchadkar.
How to Read a Poem: Beginner's Manual, by Pamela Spiro Wagner
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
April 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
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thegoaproject.bsky.social
Next in our open platform showcase series: an open mic for amateur stand-up comedians. The best submissions get a feedback and tips session with an expert mentor, Aditi Mittal, before they take their turn at the mic.
Read all about it: thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/l...
On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: Laugh lines Below, a subhead: An open mic for comedy Next, the session date: 29 June Next, a circular window, which frames a picture of a microphone, and besides it, a name: You And below that, a descriptor: An amateur stand-up comic Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom. On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: L.O.L. Below, a subhead: Lots Of Learning: a comedy workshop Next, the session date: 16–17 June Next, a circular window, framing a portrait of the presenter, and a name: Aditi Mittal And below that, a descriptor: Comedian, actor, writer, teacher Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.
June 4, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
We are the same, this land and I -
Wilfully ignorant of being at the risk
of being burnt down by an inferno of logged water.

~ A bildungsroman by @chamelea.bsky.social

#poetryinparks #poem

youtu.be/wv694kGqHxE
A bildungsroman, by Rituja Patil
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
April 26, 2025 at 11:08 AM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
It’s business as usual as the trees fall
The roofs cave in and the sewers burst.
Take no notice, you in your towers
Where the light gentles all storms.

~ First Deluge Of The Season, by Sampurna Chattarji

(read by @mumbaipaused.bsky.social)

#poetryinparks #poem #pausaala #powergela
First Deluge Of The Season, by Sampurna Chattarji
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
May 7, 2025 at 5:36 AM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
After every war
someone has to clean up.
Things won’t
straighten themselves up, after all.

Someone has to push the rubble
to the side of the road,
so the corpse-filled wagons
can pass.

~The End and the Beginning
Wislawa Szymborska (translated by Joanna Trzeciak)

Read by Anu

#poetryinparks #poem
The End and the Beginning, by Wislawa Szymborska
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
May 10, 2025 at 10:47 AM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
The drone’s buzzing sound,
the roar of an F-16,
the screams of bombs falling on houses,
on fields, and on bodies,
of rockets flying away—
rid my small ear canal of them all.

~ Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, by @mosababutoha.bsky.social

read by Deepti Khera.

#PoetryforPalestine #NakbaDay
Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear, by Mosab Abu Toha
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
May 15, 2025 at 1:07 PM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
Imagine our streets full of women, talking, strolling, laughing and gesticulating. Visualise parks and beaches dotted with young women sitting alone. Imagine street corners taken over by old women reflecting on the state of the world.

~ from @whyloiter.bsky.social read by Sukrity G

#poetryinparks
[Extract from Why Loiter], by Shilpa Phadke, Sameera Khan, Shilpa Ranade
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
May 17, 2025 at 12:51 PM
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poetryinparks.bsky.social
Yet, God, I want to talk to everybody I can as deeply as I can. I want to be able to sleep in an open field, to travel west, to walk freely at night...

~ from the journals of Sylvia Plath

read by Garima S.

#poetryinparks
[Extract from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath]
YouTube video by Poetry in Parks
youtu.be
May 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
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haymarketbooks.org
Heaven Looks Like Us: An Evening of Palestinian Poetry 🇵🇸

Join @intifadabatata.bsky.social, @noorhindi.bsky.social, and contributors to the new Palestinian poetry anthology Heaven Looks Like Us for a virtual reading in commemoration of Nakba Day.

RSVP to join:
www.tickettailor.com/events/hayma...
Heaven Looks Like Us: An Evening of Palestinian Poetry Virtual Launch Event Thursday, May 15 5:00 pm CT Rasha A. LDA A Dina Abdulhadi Leena Aboutaleb George abraham Rimona Afana Fadia Antabli Summer Awad Asmaa’ Azaizeh Farah Barqawi Sarona Bedwan Carolina Ebeid Olivia Elias Summer Farah Layla Azmi Goushey Maen Hammad noor hindi Lenna Jawdat Emily Khilfeh N Mankinem Angie Mazakis Hajer Mirwali Sara Saleh Hind Shoufani Jen Siraganian Rewa Zeinati Omar Zahzah
May 6, 2025 at 9:57 PM
caferati.bsky.social
Monday, 28th.
Come.
Register on the spot.
caferati.bsky.social Caferati @caferati.bsky.social · Nov 18
Since 2008, we have been hosting an open mic at Prithvi Theatre Café.
We welcome poets, storytellers, singer-songwriters, comedians.
Fourth Monday of every month, 7 p.m.
#Bombay #Bambai #Mumbai
Caferati @ Prithvi. The city’s longest-running open mic. Bring your poetry, fiction, narrative non-fiction, lyrics, comedy. You get two minutes at the microphone, and if the crowd likes you, a Suleimani Chai.
April 27, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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zigzackly.bsky.social
April 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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zigzackly.bsky.social
April 23, 2025 at 4:35 PM
caferati.bsky.social
#WorldBookDay

Quote this post with a picture of the book you are #NowReading.
April 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM
caferati.bsky.social
#WorldBookDay

Quote this post with a picture of the last book you bought.
April 23, 2025 at 4:33 PM