It has been a colourful journey for local poet Sundari Maheswaran who found her poetic voice at Dudley Library one Saturday morning with Poetry Breakfast hosted by Jay Lewis (Black Country Radio) and Saturday Books.
She has performed in the West Midlands and is currently putting together her first poetry collection which encapsulates her unique identities. She showcased her work recently at Dudley Library with Saturday Books and Jay Lewis from Black Country Radio.
"National Poetry Day 2025 is on 2nd October" explained Sundari and its theme is "play". The day is a large scale celebration of poetry across the UK, featuring a variety of events and activities, including those organised by the Forward Arts Foundation and partners like The Poetry Society".
Sundari Maheswaran is a a poet of Malaysian Sri Lankan Tamil descent. She is also a doctor.
Since then she has been preparing her debut poetry manuscript for publication and performing at two sold out shows celebrating the Chinese Mid Autumn Festival at the Birminggham Conference & Events Centre. All 1,500 tickets were soled for both shows. Sundari and friends were then invited to perform a third production of the Chinese-based show at the Ming Moon Restaurant in the Chinese Quarter of Birmingham.
The success of Sundari`s spoken word performance has led to an invitation to perform in Redditch between 1st November - 2nd November for a 48 hour spoken word and music marathon for charity hosted by former Birmingham Poet Laureate Giovanni Spoz Esposito. Audience levels are expected to be 2,000 people with social media engagement of 75,000 - 80,000 people.
On Sunday 28th September she performed with the New Moon Players in an Arts Council England funded project at the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre for the Mid Autum Festival organised by the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee.
She participated in the sold out event at the Mid Autumn Festival in the Birmingham Conference Centre and performed her stylised Manglish poetry at a further festival event at the Ming Moon in the vibrant Chinese Quarter.
"There were two performances" said Sundari "and each show had 750 tickets for sale. The first show sold out quickly. 750 tickets for just one show. Then the second show sold out - another 750 tickets - and people were being turned away at the door! 1,500 people!"
The production was the Chinese creation myth which featured actors and actresses of Chinese heritage. Following the two sold out performances Sundari and the rest of the Players were then invited to perform at the Ming Moon Restaurant in Birmingham`s Chinese Quarter for the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association.
"The venue was also packed" explained Sundari "and it had a different vibe to the Birmingham Conference & Events Centre. We kicked off with some of my poetry and then into the play. It was brilliant - and so was the food afterwards!"
Parvati proclaimed Food is real, not an illusion Food is a necessity
She was challenged
Angered, she disappeared
I am not a kitchen gods wife !
She scoffed
I am Parvati
She reincarnated
Was it in far away Varanasi ?
Or in the image of a grandmother?
Goddess of food and nourishment
Of Sustenance
Of Abundance
My grandmother’s kusini was always an open house
Everyone had ample to eat at her table
Seconds were available in minutes
The stone ural
The rudimentary wooden pestle and mortar, turned grains into gold
The man catti within which simmered a thousand sambars
The coal stove worn and old
The electric oven new and never used
She wanted to feel the fire
Annapurna, Goddess or Grandmother ?
Did you live up to your name or did your name live up to you ?
All that is left Idol worship
My tiny little bronze deity
My Annapurna
Goddess of food and nourishment sits crossed legged on my kitchen shelf cradling her bowl and ladle
Do you watch me? or do you watch over me ?
