04 September,2026 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Samruddhi Trivedi
Words over a recycled newspaper reveal a poem hidden within the original text
The idea is simple, instead of staring at a blank page and wondering where to begin, participants start with words that are already there. As facilitator Vijayalakshmi Mythily puts it, "You find any piece of text that's already written, pick out words that speak to you, and make a new poem out of it." With markers in hand, participants will black out the words they do not need, leaving behind a new trail of language that tells an entirely different story.
An old book page transformed into an erasure poem. PICS COURTESY/ ANANYA SALONKAR and Atrangi Katta
Beyond the creative exercise, the session gives discarded pages another chance at relevance. It also brings a simple idea of recycling into the process, giving old paper a new purpose instead of discarding it. Old text becomes raw material, while the blacked out sections become part of the artwork, creating something new from what was once overlooked.
Facilitator Vijayalakshmi Mythily prepares for the session
What makes the exercise interesting is that there is no fixed way to approach the page. A sentence can take on a new meaning, a forgotten phrase can become the heart of the poem, and an ordinary piece of text can suddenly feel personal. The process is as much about noticing as it is about creating.
Vedanti Shinde
And you don't need to call yourself a poet to sign up. Event curator and founder of Atrangi Katta, Vedanti Shinde, says, "I hope this session makes poetry accessible to those who think they are not poets, while creating a safe space to experiment without judgement."
It is the art of creating a new poem from an existing piece of text by selectively erasing words. What remains becomes a fresh composition, often revealing a meaning entirely different from the original.
ON September 6; 11 am to 1 pm
AT Atrangi Katta, Kalpataru Industrial Estate Road, Manorama Nagar, Thane.
LOG ON TO sortmyscene.com
ENTRY Rs 650
