Poets United to Host Annual Poetry on the Patio!

 

JOIN US FOR SOME FUN & SUN! 

As we share poetry, pot luck, prizes and more! 

June 13, 2026 (Saturday)

@ Jen's place

3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

By invitation only* so check your mail boxes

Poetry Corner* Dr. Archan Mehta

 Dutch Miss

I want you to know that you are always

On my mind despite the passage of time.

The first time I saw you, I could not take

My eyes off you. I was shy then and would

Hide behind a tree to observe you walking

Past me as if I didn’t exist, Dutch Miss. In

Those days, I remember how I would

Dream about you and wake up, suddenly,

In the middle of the night: a dream which

Did not translate into reality. I am sure 

Your beauty must have left behind a

Trail of broken hearts but you did not

Care. You dared to follow the wind

And traveled to exotic and mystical lands.

It was almost as if you had a magic wand

In your hands. I hope to catch up with 

You, one day, in India or Amsterdam.

BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Poetry Corner* Dr. Archan Mehta

Strolling in Nature

My morning stroll is routine in the park

Close to my home: being out and about in

Nature keeps me sane: staying cooped up

Indoors is not my game and I don’t even

Enter that lane. I guess that’s why I don’t

Like working out in the gym. Instead,

Playing sports in the outdoors keeps

Me fit and slim. I can reach up to touch

The clouds in the sky on a whim. I can

Hug a tree or sing a duet with a bird

Perched on the edge of a bark. I can

Feed a squirrel and make friends with

Dogs, cats and deer. I can avoid bats

At that time of day and year. Fresh

Oxygen enters my lungs and I feel

One with the mist and the rising sun.

Strolling helps and heals, I feel young.

BIO: 

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Poetry Night @ Local Art Gallery

 

In Poets United's ongoing mission to "advance the arts" we are pleased to incorporate in today's post, some coverage on the "visual arts" captured via a local art gallery event, recently attended in the Bronzeville area.

Where do I start? I was invited to attend this gala a few days ago marketed as, "Artini @ Gallery Guichard." It was my first time there, but I definitely don't intend for it to be my last! 

From the moment my fella' and I entered the door, we were impressed with the ambiance, the decor, the sounds and the vast collection of beautiful paintings and other artistic pieces curated by artists of color. Many of which you've probably never even heard of.  

The night was enhanced by musicians, poets and a dynamic D.J.! The evening's event was surprisingly well attended, with folks from all races, places, and socio-economic backgrounds. Let me tell you! What a night on the town.

And since a picture is said to "speak a thousand words," I trust you'll be abundantly "enriched' by these lovely photos I took and am sharing here.

Feel free to leave a comment. As always, thanks for reading! Keep the arts in your heart!

April is National Poetry Month!

Greetings, readers!

Happy to have you rejoin us, as we celebrate National Poetry Month. Throughout the month, you'll find feature poets, interesting facts about N.P.M., local events and more. So let's start things off with our monthly column from Dr. Archan Mehta. Please feel free to leave a comment if you are so inclined. 

As always, thanks for your time and readership.

Who Is A Poet?

A poet is a sensitive soul with a heart of gold.

A poet is bold: grace under pressure and courage

Under fire. A poet tries to avoid trash talkers,

Tall talkers, habitual liars, bullies, snake-oil

Salespersons, and con artists who cross the line. A

Poet is often misunderstood and misjudged by the

Masses: thus, a poet is labelled as arrogant, short,

Egotistical, delusional, Americano, unconventional,

Rebellious and worse. That’s because a poet is blessed

And cursed with a fertile imagination which cannot

Be roped in. A poet finds mundane reality trivial

And boring and chooses instead to live on cloud nine.

Only a poet can dream about what is invisible to

The naked eye; a poet’s bridge touches the sky,

Linking earth to heaven. While the masses sleep,

The poet suddenly leaps to connect the dots: The poet

Has a sharp mind even if he seems confused and lost.

BIO:

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Happy Women's History Month! Poetry Corner Tribute From Dr. Archan Mehta

About Caring For You

You complained that nobody cares for you:

How untrue, my love, for I do: you complained

That there is nobody you can turn to when the

Chips are down: rest assured, my dear, I would

Be happy to play the clown, make sure you laugh

At my silly jokes—laughter is the best medicine,

And my antics will spread good cheer. Later, I 

Will gladly point out the True North, and make

Sure you follow the light: I want the darkness

To disappear from your life. You complained that

Your Kith and Kin have abandoned you, but you

Are not friendless in our world: there are greener

Pastures waiting for you. You complained that your

Boss, colleagues and customers were mean to you

And called you names, but for every problem under

The sun, there is a solution and we will find one

Which works for you. Please do not feel lost

And lonely, for I am on your side and we are

On the same team. Trust me, you will sail

Through this storm and emerge as a better

Person: you will find the peace of mind you

Have always been searching for and personal

Happiness too. It is just a matter of time. 

Please be patient: working on yourself will

Help and heal and you will experience the divine. 

BIO: 

Dr. Archan Mehta has earned a PhD. in Management. Currently, he is a Consultant and Writer based in India. In his free time, Dr. Mehta likes to stroll in the outdoors and party with close friends. He is also fond of meditation. Please feel free to reach out to the poet at archanm@hotmail.com at your convenience.

Poets United to Perform Poetic Works @ West Pullman Library for Black History Month

 

In honor of Black History Month, Poets United will be featured at West Pullman Library. The forum will include discussions of African-American writers who have contributed to our love and appreciation of the arts; selections from our individual and collective poetry books; and an open-mic spoken word session.

We hope you will join us for some powerful poetry, good vibes, good conversation, and good food.

DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

WHEN: FEBRUARY 21, 2026 (Saturday)

FROM: 2:30-4:30 P.M.

WHERE: 830 W. 119th St.

Chicago, IL

For more information, visit Chipublib.org.

This event is free and open to the public.