Five Poets. Five Voices. One Beautiful Journey.
Back in this year during the months April and May, we had the privilege of hosting a deeply enriching Poetry Writing Workshop in collaboration with international bestselling author Asha Ponnachan, from Canada.
Now, as we look back, what stays with us is not just what was taught—but what was discovered.
Over the course of the workshop, five participants from different corners of the world explored poetry as a space for observation, memory, imagination, emotion, and voice. They experimented with the craft, language, and found their own rhythms, and most importantly, allowed themselves to write, instead of staring at a blank page.
And then came a wonderful milestone:
Publication in Issue 11 of The Hemlock Journal:
The poems they developed during the workshop were later included in Issue 11 (Summer 2026), which was published a few days ago. Five poets that began as workshop exercises and went on to become published pieces.
And if you’d like to read their poems, pick up Issue 11 of The Hemlock Journal. Get your copy of Issue 11 and support emerging writers.
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They have also been awarded Annual Hemlock Membership that comes with the benefits of $300 for Free!
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Her poem “Hangman, or Love as a Gargoyle” has been included in Issue 11.
Kataru Yahya is a Ghanaian writer and have been writing since she was fourteen. She writes both poetry and prose, and has published a YA novel, Home Is A Silhouette. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Ta Adesa, The Disappointed Housewife, Eunoia Review, Mouthful of Salt and elsewhere. She writes to make sense of the world and also, to create a body of live that will outlive me.
Her poem “I met Kali on the Ghats” has been included in Issue 11
Sonali Bawa is a writer and photographer with a background in social science teaching and research. A geographer by training, most of her work has strong environmental themes; questioning the everyday understanding of time and space. As her roots are in the ever transforming landscape of Uttarakhand, her work is nostalgic, evoking a wistful remembering of the past and an impossible desire to return to what was.
His poem “i rode a horse” has been included in Issue 11
Britton Edwin Theurer is retired music professor (trumpet/composition) who wrote articles and music for many years. He enjoyed creative writing as a student and, in retirement, have rediscovered poetry, finding it very similar creatively to composition. He has written ten poems in the last year for the St. Marys (ON) Poetry Circle, and wish to establish a disciplined rigor toward a daily practice. He is currently writing music for a 35 minute film by artist, Eugene Florin Zamfirescu. He loves reading for open mic events in Stratford, ON, and also want to write poems for music. My recent submission for The Hemlock Journal, “I’m Not Mad at You”, is set to music. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yRd_LzyaPD8
Her poem “Over Tea” has been included in Issue 11
A solo traveller and an avid reader, there’s little that pleases Tanusha more than a good read or the thrill of a new adventure. She doesn’t accept change, she seeks it. When not amusing herself with a delicious rom-com, she could be found engrossed in other literary pursuits. Whether immersed in an Agatha Christie whodunnit or engaging with Rajiv Malhotra’s arguments on the East–West encounter, she remains firmly tethered to the literary world.
Her poem “The End That Wasn’t” has been included in Issue 11
Shalini Singh is a 53 years old writer from India, having been writing poetry for some time now
Their reflections remind us that a writing workshop is not simply about learning how to write. It is about creating the space, encouragement, and courage to discover what you have to say.
And there’s more coming…
If you’ve been thinking about writing poetry, but haven’t yet taken that first step—watch this space.
Your poem might be waiting for you.
Applications for our next ‘Poetry Writing Workshop in collaboration with Asha Ponnachan’ will be opening on September 23rd, 2026.
About Asha Ponnachan :
Asha Ponnachan (she/her) A writer, actor, dancer and lover of all things art, asha, is the bestselling author of three books that gained international fame. She has also written multiple scripts for stage and screen. Her acting career spans a vast repertoire of theatre productions on Canadian stage as well as short films. Trained as an Indian classical dancer, she began performing on stage as a child. Her love for storytelling transitioned from dance to acting and writing. She has directed two plays and one documentary. Having lived and worked in various countries before making her home in Canada, she draws upon a diversity of international experiences in her art- whether it is writing or acting. Asha also works as an arts manager and founded a literary arts organization in 2025. Additionally, she volunteers her time to champion the benefits of ‘arts on mental and emotional health’. Her motto is “there is always Hope” and art is one of the most promising generators of hope.
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