Poetry Circle: The Conference of the Birds

A five-week deep dive into Farid al-Din Attar's Conference of the Birds, one of Sufism's most celebrated spiritual allegories. You'll gather Thursday evenings to read, recite, and discuss passages from this 12th-century Persian masterpiece alongside fellow seekers—whether you're a poet yourself or simply drawn to beauty and meaning.

Each session opens with context on that week's themes and spiritual significance, then the floor opens: you'll share your favorite passages, recite them aloud, and explore what they reveal. The arc moves from the gathering of birds through their perilous journey to the final meeting with the Simorgh, touching on stories of the Sufi saint Shaykh San'an and the ecstatic martyr Hallaj. Attar's work sits at the heart of Islamic literary tradition, blending narrative, poetry, and mystical teaching into something that still speaks across centuries.

Qahwah House on Broadway is a warm, intimate space—arrive early if you want to join the 6 PM Sufi Corner Book Club (reading Martin Lings' What is Sufism?) in the same room. Registration is free and required; no experience necessary, just curiosity and an openness to the tradition.