Luhong Balan from Sarawak performing at the recent Sacred Grounds show at Ghostbird Coffee, where eight poets presented pieces inspired by four local coffee brews. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
Poetry and coffee collided at Ghostbird Coffee in Seputeh late last month, proving that in Kuala Lumpur, cafes aren’t just for caffeine – they’re becoming stages for verse.
Sacred Grounds Volume 2 brought together eight poets – Yashvin Kumar, Jonathan Sim, Chloe Ling, Bethany Luhong Balan, Jack Malik, Samantha Yeoh, Lofrine Layam and The South East Asian Poet – to perform works inspired by four locally roasted brews.
A month earlier, they joined a guided cupping session, learning to taste each coffee’s notes of fruit, spice, chocolate or florals before turning those flavours into words.
On the night, two poets responded to each coffee, giving the audience a tasting flight of stories. Description cards on each table explained the brews’ origins and notes, making it easy for first-timers to follow.
In the present moment
The show, with a social media presence, was the brainchild of Chloe Ling, a poet and the curator of Sacred Grounds, and Samantha Koh, its producer. For Ling, the name itself reflects how coffee and poetry share a similar role: grounding people in the present moment.
Koh (left) and Ling both produce and curate the coffee-inspired poetry series, with plans for future projects ahead. Photo: Sacred Grounds
“In our show, grounding doesn’t mean producing the same work, quite the opposite. Though the poets write about the same medium, their pieces are always distinct and varied," says Ling in a recent interview.
"Some explore the sensorial experience of drinking coffee, while others write about the memories and stories those senses evoke. It’s a beautiful reminder of just how nuanced and diverse the human experience can be,” she adds.
Originally staged as a special for International Poetry Month in April and again for International Coffee Day in October, the show’s three-part process has since become its signature.
While the event was not held in an art gallery, the cafe space prominently displayed the poems, giving them a central presence for visitors to engage with. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
“Our show follows a three-stage process: Coffee Cupping, Table Read and Live Performance. The first and last are self-explanatory, but the Table Read is where the real magic happens. It’s an evening where poets gather in a circle, share their work aloud and connect over food and drink,” says Ling.
Poetry in the Klang Valley has long thrived in intimate spaces such as bookshops, small theatres, indie venues and cafes. Ling drew inspiration for the Table Read from her time with Wordsmiths of Kuching, a collective in Sarawak that fostered community among writers.
“They hosted ‘First Readings,’ intimate gatherings where writers could share words in a safe, conversational space with no expectations. Those nights felt different from public shows – the conversations were deeper, the feedback more thoughtful. By the time performance night comes around, poets step on stage knowing there’s at least one friendly face in the crowd cheering them on,” she adds.
With her performance, The South East Asian Poet (left) pulls the audience into the story. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
Ling hopes Sacred Grounds can bridge a gap between niche art forms and wider audiences.
"Sacred Grounds aims to bring new people into writing, or at least appreciating, poetry. By pairing it with something familiar, like coffee, we want to make it more approachable,” she says.
A unique brew
If Ling shaped the show’s storytelling, Koh gave it a physical presence. For her, the event’s wall displays, chapbooks and takeaway pamphlets were never just decorations.
“We saw how much it meant to the poets themselves. Seeing their work displayed on A1 foam boards, taking up physical space, was incredibly moving. That moment shaped how we see these elements: not as decor, but as extensions of the experience.
"Today, the large-scale poetry wall prints have become a signature part of Sacred Grounds. For Volume 2, we even added poetry prints for sale. It’s about creating ways for the audience to savour the experience long after the show,” says Koh.
'It’s encouraging to see poetry events evolving in Malaysia,' says Jack Malik. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
These gestures, she adds, make poetry less intimidating and more inviting, especially for first-time audiences who may not often seek out live literature events.
The success of Sacred Grounds reflects a larger trend in the Klang Valley, where poetry has found a home in “third spaces” such as cafes, bookshops and community hubs. They join the likes of Jalan Dalam, Ruang Hidup, & Snap, Words’Worth, and other collectives who regularly host open mics, poetry competitions, workshops and curated shows around Klang Valley.
“It’s encouraging to see poetry events evolving in Malaysia. It’s such a literary niche here, and honestly, a challenging genre to host at venues. Though Sacred Grounds isn’t a (monthly) regular series, it shows how thoughtful curation and imaginative presentation can open new possibilities - with the added bonus of performing alongside such a diverse line-up of poets,” says Jack Malik, a poet known for his bilingual reach and collaborative-minded approach.
Yeoh, a speech therapist by day and songwriter by night, performs at the recent 'Sacred Grounds' poetry showcase. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
For many local poets in such a small circuit, these settings give people a place to slow down and engage with local talent in ways that feel personal and welcoming.
This appetite for cross-disciplinary, community-driven art, says Koh, has been one of the most rewarding discoveries.
“It’s shown us that there is a genuine appetite for community-driven arts, and that people are often more open to crossing into unfamiliar art forms than we might expect. Sacred Grounds has always blurred lines – it’s not just poetry, not just coffee, but a space where both merge.
"We’ve even expanded what people know ‘poetry’ to be, and our poets bring such diverse expressions that surprise even us,” she says.
The crowd was drawn to the event by the offering of both poetry and coffee, and listened with quiet attentiveness. Photo: The Star/Chan Tak Kong
While there are no immediate plans for a third volume, Koh hints that workshops and other arts-driven programmes are in the works.
In reality, much work remains, as this was no plug-and-play "coffee rave." The sustainability of such an independent arts series depends on a combination of adequate funding, supportive venues that appreciate the work, and a committed community that values and nurtures it.
“There’s growing potential in exploring overlaps between different art forms, as long as we create spaces where they can exist together. What anchors it all is the sense of community, of holding space for both artists and audiences, keeping it open, wholesome and deeply human,” concludes Koh.
