The Writing Center of Thames International College recently hosted an intimate and evocative poetry reading session centered on “Still”, a collection of personal poems by Anahita Sarabhai (they/them). The event offered attendees a rare opportunity to engage with poetry not only as a literary form, but as a lived, embodied experience.
Anahita Sarabhai, a performing artist, writer, educator, and somatic mind-body coach from Ahmedabad, guided the audience through their creative journey with remarkable honesty and depth. Their work is deeply rooted in personal narratives, stories of identity, resilience, and self-discovery woven together through the language of the body and emotion. Rather than presenting poetry as something distant or abstract, they emphasized how their writing emerges from felt experiences, where emotions are processed and expressed through the body itself.
During the session, Anahita shared excerpts from their handwritten collection “Still”, inviting listeners into a space that explored love in its many forms—tender, expansive, and unafraid. Each poem served as a window into moments of vulnerability and growth. The reading was accompanied by reflections on the creative process, offering insight into the thoughts, emotions, and lived experiences that shaped the collection.
The session unfolded as a journey, one that moved between storytelling, performance, and introspection. Drawing from their background in theatre, somatic practices, and the teaching of English literature, Anahita created a space that was both intellectually engaging and emotionally resonant.
The event ultimately stood as a quiet yet powerful reminder of poetry’s ability to hold space for transformation. As expressed through the essence of “Still”, it became a love letter—to the self, to one another, and to all that we are still in the process of becoming.
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