When poetry leaves the page and steps into unexpected places, something remarkable happens. This belief sparked KavitaKAFE’s Healing Verses initiative, an offshoot of their well-loved Hindi open-mic events at Pune’s Monalisa Kalagram.
“We wanted to step beyond the conventional stage and take poetry to people and spaces that rarely experience it,” says Garima Mishra, the force behind KavitaKAFE. “Poetry, especially when combined with music, has the power to heal and comfort. Research shows that creative expressions like poetry and music can calm anxiety, ease emotional pain, and offer solace.”
Launched in March 2025, Healing Verses has already hosted seven intimate sessions in places such as Vrindavan Old-Age Home, QMTI (a rehabilitation centre for disabled soldiers), Aaji Care, Poona Blind School, and Cipla Palliative Care in Warje. The experience, Garima says, has reaffirmed a simple belief: poetry belongs everywhere, and to everyone.
Poetry for Every Space and Soul
Each Healing Verses session is carefully shaped to suit the community it visits. “We first connect with the management or caregivers to understand the needs and interests of the residents,” Garima explains. At the Poona Blind School and QMTI, participants themselves took the mic to share their own verses.
But in spaces like Vrindavan Old-Age Home or Cipla Palliative Care, where elderly residents or patients in advanced stages of illness may struggle to follow long poems, the focus shifts. “We lean more on music—old film songs, folk tunes, live instruments—because music awakens memories and emotions. We weave in light sher-o-shayari, keep it short and gentle, and make sure people feel seen, heard, and comforted,” she says.
Choosing Who to Reach
The guiding question for Garima and her team is simple: Who has been left out of poetry’s embrace? Healing Verses reaches out to communities where art rarely arrives—old-age homes, rehab centers, institutions for the physically challenged—and offers sessions free of cost. “Organizations see it not as a performance, but as a collaborative act of care,” Garima says.
Their content is equally mindful. Poems and songs focus on resilience, joy, and cherished memories, deliberately steering clear of themes like grief or loss. The goal? “To leave our audiences with lighter hearts and brighter spirits,” she explains.
Moments That Stay Forever
Garima carries many stories in her heart. At Aaji Care, a patient in the early stages of dementia—who couldn’t recall her own name—suddenly began singing every word of Shammi Kapoor’s classic Tareef Karun Kya Uski when a musician started to play it.
“In that moment, her eyes sparkled,” Garima recalls. “It was unforgettable.”
In another session, an elderly gentleman slowly rose and began to dance, joined by others tapping along with daflis and ghungroos. At Vrindavan Old-Age Home, a senior citizen surprised everyone by stepping up to the mic to recite his favorite verses—proof that poetry can awaken memories long thought dormant.
Music, Musicians, and More
Musicians—guitarists, flautists, kahun and djembe players, even harmonica artists—have been key collaborators. “Their music often bridges the gap where words may not fully reach,” Garima notes. Though they haven’t yet formally partnered with therapists or social workers, she says the response has inspired them to explore such collaborations.
And the sessions are not just performances; they often ignite creativity. At QMTI, officers who shared their own poems during the first visit have continued writing. A teacher at the Poona Blind School promised to encourage his visually impaired students to write poetry too. “For us, that’s the true measure of success,” Garima says. “It’s about inspiring people to discover their own creative voices.”
The Road Ahead
Healing Verses is only just beginning. Garima dreams of taking poetry and music to even more communities—the LGBTQ+ community, sex workers, addiction rehabilitation centers, and other marginalized groups who could benefit from the healing power of art.
“Eventually we’d love to bring Healing Verses to other cities,” she adds. With financial support for logistics and travel, scaling the initiative could become a reality. For now, the team shares snippets of their sessions on Instagram (@kavita.kafe) and hopes to create a dedicated archive for this growing movement.
How to Join the Movement
The response from poets and musicians has already been heartwarming. “Many of our open-mic performers volunteer—whether as performers or simply as helping hands. It proves that compassion is abundant; it just needs a platform,” Garima says.
Anyone who loves poetry, music, or service can join—whether as a performer, volunteer, or supporter. And for companies or corporate groups, offering financial support could help Healing Verses touch even more lives.
