Postcard created by Paul Nelson, one of the co-founders of Poetry Postcard Festival
Anyone who has read my blog for awhile knows I have participated in the annual poetry postcard festival for the last 3 years. Kerfe got me interested in it, and once I did it I was hooked. How it works is you register at the website (and pay $22 now, as early bird registration is over.)
From the “how it works” page of the website:
The fest is a self-guided 56 day workshop in spontaneous composition and community. Initiated in 2007, by poets Paul Nelson and Lana Ayers, it involves people signing up to send 31 original poems on postcards to folks on their list between July 4 and August 31. In 2023 the fest had 517 participants in 8 different countries and 44 different states and 5 Canadian provinces. (See 2023 stats here.) See this essay in Rattle Magazine about the fest.
I’ve made my own postcards 1 year and bought postcards the other 2. Not sure yet about this year. As much as I enjoy writing the poems and creating or choosing which postcard to send, receiving poems and postcards from people across the US and Canada is the best part for me. Walking out to the mailbox every day and wondering if a lovely gift of art and poetry will be waiting for me feels swell.
There’s only a few days left to register. Again, here is the link to registration.
You’ll thank me later :)
Tao Talk 
It sounds wonderful! I hope it is a huge success this year! <3
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It is wonderful. This year may be a record for registrants. Almost 17 groups of 31 so far…
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Oh! My! God! I just registered. This looks so fun!
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AWESOME, Sassy!
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Hi Lisa, this sounds like a lovely and unique festival.
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It is, Robbie. A memorable experience and a wonderful and wise community of artists and poets.
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Lovely
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How fun!
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Yes, it is!
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This is a cool idea.
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:)
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I’d love to participate if I lived in the states. A wonderful idea.
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Sadje, it is WORLDWIDE! The only consideration is how much postage is, which I have no idea how much it would be to and from where you are at. You still have today and tomorrow to research it and decide. I would LOVE to see you participate!
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Okay I’ll look into it. Thanks
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Sounds like a very creative project, Lisa. I love your artwork.
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It is and one I look forward to each year. Thanks for reading and the comment.
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You are most welcome.
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Dwight, I would love to see you do this one year. You could paint your postcards and write poems all this year until next July — or even still do it this year. You have until tomorrow to register.
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Thank you Lisa. I appreciate your thinking of me in this venue. I do not get into ongoing prompts. I like to be free to express or not as the muse calls! I have not gotten my muse back for painting since i have been sick. It will come in time. Perhaps with cooler weather.
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You’re welcome, and I understand. I haven’t done any collage work for months now :(
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Maybe next year… I just found a book of postcards – for less than 50 cents; 25 Recipes from Quilters!!
Do you eat seafood? I could send you the Seafood pasta salad card. Or would you like a dessert? :)
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Cool, on the book of postcards. I know you have plenty you could use for POPO. Yes, please on either one :)
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Hmmm I just figured out that each postcard in that book cost me about 1.5 cents. The postage for to mail the card is more than I paid for the whole book… still … maybe both! :)
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And postage goes up again on July 14 or 15 :( I bought regular stamps for the postcards and hope that covers the increase (will double check to be sure.)
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As long as you got ‘Forever Postage’ that will cover the increase. If not… you’ll have to fork up more change ;)
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We’ve had so many price increases I have a stash built up of 1c, 2c, and 10c stamps.
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I’m going to do this next year, thank you!
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YAY! You are welcome. I usually wait until the “festival” is over for a month and then post the postcards and poetry I sent on my blog. Nice way to draw the festival to a close for the year.
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Fun! I look forward to seeing what you send. Do you also post what you receive?
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No, I don’t post what I receive because it’s the creative property of the senders. That said, I do share one photo of all of the postcards I receive each festival (art side showing.)
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I understand. Thank you for sharing the link to the festival. I look forward to participating!
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You’re welcome :)
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I have more stamps than perhaps I’ll ever use…
But they are fun to use… my ‘fancy stamps’ ;)
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Jules, didn’t you say you know a good place to get ‘fancy stamps’? Will you please share here or in an email? I get sick of the post office hassle. I send in the envelope but they don’t usually send very interesting ones back, even though I ask for ‘fancy stamps.’
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Sent you an email. :) 💌
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Yes, I saw it and read it. Thank you :)
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📮
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