Spoken Word Poetry
Performances
“When performing, I breathe the power of words, which affirms their ability to empower, change, and provoke. I’m always in my element when on stage—performing is both an individual and communal experience that is transformative, inspiring, and pure magic.”
Spoken Word Artist
Purnima’s poetry explores themes of women’s empowerment, activism, identity, self-discovery, love, loss, healing, mental health and belonging. Her powerful performances and written work speak to diverse audiences, encouraging individuals to embrace their authentic selves and find hope. Drawing inspiration from visual art (ekphrasis), nature, creativity, the universe and shared human emotions, her poetry bridges personal experience with universal connection.
Featured in various platforms and currently working on her debut poetry book, Purnima believes in poetry’s transformative power to comfort, unify and uplift marginalised voices. She actively promotes the reading, writing and teaching of both written and spoken word poetry through publishing, public performance and facilitating poetry workshops with young people and adults. Her work fosters appreciation for poetry while raising awareness of global issues, celebrating individuality and preserving oral and literary traditions.
spoken word poetry by theme
Women’s Empowerment
Featuring spoken word poems written and performed by Purnima in honour of International Women’s Day (IWD), this collection explores women’s empowerment through the lens of each year’s IWD campaign themes. Purnima’s work has been featured by IWD itself, recognising her powerful poetic responses to their global initiatives. As a passionate activist and artist, she uses the power of creative expression to raise awareness and promote social change—addressing gender equality, challenging stereotypes, calling out discrimination and amplifying women’s voices in the ongoing fight for gender equality, inclusion, belonging and social justice.
Events & Festivals – Performance Gallery
Live Performance Videos
Explore global performances across events, festivals, and schools, including appearances at the National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre London; Collage Arts London; Whitecross Street Festival; ASEAN Youth Forum Thailand; British and Australian Chamber of Commerce Bangkok; and Bangkok Patana School. For more video content, follow her on YouTube or social media.
Kinetic Poetic, AUGUST 2025
Speakbox Thonglor, Bangkok, Thailand
Spoken Word Showcase, JUNE 2025
Bangkok Patana School, Thailand
Our Art is the Start,
TAPs Launch Party, JANUARY 2025
Bangkok Patana School, Thailand
Bangkok Design Festival, FEBRUARY 2025
General Post Office, Bangkok, Thailand
CELEBRATING A RADICAL COMMUNITY, JULY 2024
Whitecross Street Party, London, UK
Spoken Word Showcase, MAY 2024
Bangkok Patana School, Thailand
KINECTIC POETIC, APRIL 2024
Yellow Lane, Ari, Bangkok, Thailand
WORD IS BOND, NOVENMBER 2023
Goombah, Bangkok, Thailand
POETRY & POPPADUMS, JUNE 2023
KaramelN22, Collage Arts London, UK
Collage Arts presented Poetry and Poppadums, featuring Kat Francois, Purnima, and Jaq Lucas. Purnima’s performance showcased poems exploring identity, activism, and self-discovery. She shared the stage with Kat Francois, the first poet to win a televised poetry slam in the UK and later the World Slam Championships. The event was hosted by Paul Lyalls, who has performed at ten Edinburgh festivals, five Glastonbury festivals, BBC TV, BBC Radio, and was the first poet to perform at Wembley Stadium. He has also collaborated and performed with renowned poets such as Michael Rosen, Benjamin Zephaniah, Kae Tempest, and more.
KINETIC POETIC, MAY 2023
Smalls, Bangkok, Thailand
Purnima delivers her International Women’s Day 2023 poem, “Embrace Equity,” accompanied by an improvised live band.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, MARCH 2023
Bangkok Patana School, Thailand
Purnima delivers a powerful spoken-word poem titled “Embrace Equity” specifically written to honour International Women’s Day 2023, focusing on the theme of #EmbraceEquity. Through her words, Purnima inspires collective activism to drive change, from grassroots action to wide-scale momentum. She reinforces the need to call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, challenge gender stereotypes, and embrace true inclusion and belonging. The aim of the #IWD2023 campaign is to spark discussions on why equal opportunities aren’t enough and the significance of understanding the difference between equality and equity. This poem ignites the conversation.
KINETIC POETIC, FEBRUARY 2023
Jam Cafe, Bangkok
Purnima guides us through her space-making process backed by the improvised atmospheric vibes of the Kinetic Poetic band.
KINETIC POETIC, JANUARY 2023
Jam Cafe, Bangkok
Purnima explores our connection with nature through her poem ‘Breathe Green’, delving into the paradox of trees – their rooted strength yet vulnerability. She advocates for drastic change towards green economies, coexisting with nature reciprocally and respectfully. Her second poem ‘Earth’ draws parallels between us and our planet.
KINETIC POETIC, AUGUST 2022
Jam Cafe, Bangkok
Purnima recites Jigsaw Lady and explores the theme of identity.
RISE OF THE NON-CONFORMISTS, JULY 2022
Whitecross Street Party, London, UK
The Rise of the Non-Conformists outdoor exhibition displays artworks painted live by participating artists and installed on buildings along Whitecross Street; this is one of London’s most unique street art events inspired by the area’s nonconformist heritage. Purnima performed on the Words Stage, alongside some of the local community’s most talented artists, performers and published poets. Her spoken word performance featured in the programme, included empowering poetry inspired by the street art exhibition display, covering themes of women’s empowerment, identity, the importance of nature, the importance of poetry and creative expression.
SPOKEN WORD SHOWCASE, MAY 2022
Bangkok Patana School, Bangkok, Thailand
SPECIAL EDITION: ZINDABAD ZINE – DIASPORA POETRY, JULY 2022
National Poetry Library, Southbank Centre, London
The National Poetry Library showcased diaspora poets reflecting on their roots, heritage and third-culturedness, posing the question – where are you really from, though? The readings by up-and-coming poets were followed by an open mic session for writers who are in the diaspora to share their poetry with the audience. Purnima performed a personal portrait poem titled ‘Jigsaw lady’, that questioned notions of belonging and where we are from.
REVOLVING WORDS PROJECT, MARCH 2022
Speakerbox, Bangkok, Thailand
The Revolving Words movie directed by Delfin Solomon, intends to spotlight Bangkok’s community of artists, including spoken word poets. The performers were selected to feature in a sizzle reel/trailer shoot that will be used to pitch to investors and entertainment streaming providers. Purnima was invited to perform a set of poems that highlights the unity between the poet, their pen as a tool for creative expression, and their words, as powerful vehicles for transformation.
REVOLVING WORDS, OPEN MIC FUNDRAISER, FEBRUARY 2022
Tuba Design Furniture & Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand
This event was a collaboration between Bangkok Lyrical Lunacy and film director, Delfin Solomon, to raise funds for the production of a sizzle reel for a forthcoming film, ‘Revolving Words’ – a drama set in the spoken word and poetry community in Bangkok. Poets were invited to perform and be potentially selected to appear in the film trailer, intended to be pitched to streaming companies. Purnima performed a set of poems that explores the unity between poets, their pen as a tool for boundless creative expression, and their words as powerful vehicles for transformation.
ASEAN YOUTH FORUM, JUNE 2021
Performed live online
In celebration of the launch of Yuwana Zine Issue #4, Lockdown, Purnima performs her published poem, ‘spilling seeds of creativity’ and explains the inspiration behind the poem in a commentary. The poem reinforces the importance of creative expression, intending to empower voices that are often repressed, censored and marginalised. The writing and artworks published in this Zine demand attention to issues ranging from mental health, social injustice to wellbeing.
ASEAN YOUTH FORUM, APRIL 2021
Live Reading on Zoom
Purnima’s poem, #ChooseToChallenge, was written in response to the International Women’s Day 2021 #ChooseToChallenge theme. Spoken word poets were invited to deliver important messages to help raise awareness and influence positive change – they came together to share their thoughts and creativity in support of this theme. This poem celebrates the resilience of women and challenges gender inequality to promote an inclusive world.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY #CHOOSETOCHALLLENGE, MARCH 2021
Live Lounge, Bangkok
Purnima’s poem, #ChooseToChallenge, was written in response to the International Women’s Day 2021 #ChooseToChallenge theme. Spoken word poets were invited to deliver important messages to help raise awareness and influence positive change – they came together to share their thoughts and creativity in support of this theme. This poem celebrates the resilience of women and challenges gender inequality to promote an inclusive world. new ones.
ASEAN YOUTH FORUM, DECEMBER 2020
Live Reading on Zoom
In celebration of the launch of Yuwana Zine #3, Days of Activism on International Human Rights Day, Purnima performs her published poem, ‘our art is a weapon against oppression,’ and explains her inspiration in a commentary. This poem is intended to empower all artists and creators by raising awareness of the integral role that artists have in representing voices of the marginalised and to confidently stand for causes that they believe in. The weapon serves as a metaphor for the collective strength, social responsibility and voice that artists have, in striving towards a more just and equal world, where every act of expression creates positive change.
POETRY, BEATS & JAMS, NOVEMBER 2020
The Yard Hostel – Bangkok, Thailand
Purnima takes the audience on a journey from vulnerability to self love – from moving outwards to inwards in the universe, reminding us of the need to embrace change, accept the process of healing and our authentic selves.
ALL IN ONE OPEN MIC, OCTOBER 2020
Live Lounge – Bangkok, Thailand
In her debut spoken word performance, Purnima powerfully conveys an urgency to embrace one’s authentic identity, letting go of past versions of self to new ones.
POETRY, BEATS & JAMS, OCTOBER 2020
The Yard Hostel – Bangkok, Thailand
Organised by the volunteer-led group, Bangkok Rising, this spoken word performance conveys messages of individuality, perseverance, ambition and growth, supporting the community’s mission of combating gender discrimination and violence against women.
THE CLAPBACK, NOVEMBER 2020
Live Lounge – Bangkok, Thailand
This spoken word conveys a powerful journey from vulnerability to self-love – from turning outwards to inwards and embracing the authentic you. The event was organised by Lyrical Lunacy, Bangkok’s community for poetry. selected to feature in a sizzle reel/trailer shoot that will be used to pitch to investors and entertainment streaming providers. Purnima was invited to perform a set of poems that highlights the unity between the poet, their pen as a tool for creative expression, and their words, as powerful vehicles for transformation.
What they say
Enquiries & Bookings
Would you like to bring Purnima’s mesmerising storytelling and powerful spoken word to your event or venue, whether it’s a poetry event, literary festival, gathering, or special occasion? She is available worldwide for booking, collaboration and commissioning for poetry, writing, performances and workshops, both in person and online.