Cascadia Poetry Festival 9
Registration
The Cascadia Poetry Festival is a gathering of poets and bioregionalists, exploring poetry and its connection to environmental, political, historical, and sociological pursuits within Cascadia bioregion. The festival aims to consider how prioritizing natural and cultural boundaries, rather than arbitrary political ones, can address climate change and other issues. Cascadia Poetics LAB Founders Circle Members will be given the first opportunity to purchase an all-access Gold Pass
Panels will address:
#1) The Practice of the Self/The Practice of Cascadia.
What does it mean to be here? What practices help reconnect a person to a place?
How does this manifest in Cascadia as opposed to other bioregions, places?
#2) Resistance
What are poets doing to respond to the realities of the United States moving toward
an authoritarian style of rule. Among the panelists will be editors and contributors
to the Anthology Winter in America (Again published January 19, 2025 by Carbonation Press.
Friday, October 10, 2025
9:00–9:30 am
Registration
Location:
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
9:30 am–12 noon
Workshops
Ekphrasis: Writing Inspired by Visual Art
Brenda Cardenas
Location: TBA
Writing Poetry: A Narrow Path to the Interior
Katie Sarah Zale
Location: TBA
Poetry as Interventionist Event
Roxi Power
Location: TBA
Blooming Difference: Exploring poetry, microcuentos and memoir at the Kubota Garden with Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs!
Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs
Location:
Kubota Garden
9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
12:00–1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00–3:00 pm
Workshops
Eco Workshop with Brenda Hillman
Brenda Hillman
Location: Dead Horse Canyon (Leave from RBCC)
Lakeridge Park, Seattle
Investigative Poetry
Sharon Thesen
Location: TBA
Open Churchyard: Lyric and Form For People Who Hate Lyric and Form
Robert Lashley
Location: TBA
5:00–7:00 pm
Dinner for Staff, Faculty
7:00–9:00 pm
Keynote Reading:
Robert Lashley, Sharon Thesen, Roberto Harrison, Brenda Hillman, Matt Trease emcee
Location:
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Location:
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
9:00–9:30 am
Land Acknowledgment by Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe
9:30–12:00 noon
Panel 1: The Practice of the Self, Practice of Cascadia
Roberto Harrison, Alicia Hokanson, Lorin Medley, Brandon Letsinger, Robert Michael Pyle, Jason Wirth moderator
Panel 2: Resistance
Roxi Power, Katie Sarah Zale, Brenda Cardenas, Brenda Hillman, Jason Wirth moderator
12:00–2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00–3:15 pm
Carbonation Press Showcase:
Greg Bem, Rhea Melina, Zach Charles, Matt Trease, Theresa Whitehill, Paul E Nelson. Greg Bem emcee.
3:30–4:45 pm
Saturday Afternoon Reading:
Lorin Medley, Jim Dott, Katie Sarah Zale, Brenda Cardenas. Matt Trease emcee.
5:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–9:00 pm
Cascadia monopoem
One poem per poet, no introductions. Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, emcee.
9:00–12:00 midnight
Cascadia Unfiltered with Greg Bem, Veronica Martinez, and Zach Charles
Location:
Jude’s
9252 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Sunday, October 12, 2025
9:00–9:30 am
Learn about Cascadia Poetics LAB with board members and key volunteers at Red Wing Cafe
11:00 am–1:00 pm
Kubota Garden Reading
Roxi Power, Alicia Hokanson, Robert Michael Pyle. Jason Wirth emcee.
1:00–3:00 pm
Lunch
3:00–5:00 pm
Winter in America (Again: Poets Respond to 2024 Election Reading
Paul E Nelson emcee.
5:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
Friday, October 10, 2025
9:00–9:30 am
Registration
Location:
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
9:30 am–12 noon
Workshops
Ekphrasis: Writing Inspired by Visual Art
Brenda Cardenas
Location given at registration
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Writing Poetry: A Narrow Path to the Interior
Katie Sarah Zale
Location given at registration
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Poetry as Interventionist Event
Roxi Power
Location given at registration
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Blooming Difference: Exploring poetry, microcuentos and memoir at the Kubota Garden with Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs!
Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs
Location: Kubota Garden
9817 55th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
12:00–1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00–3:00 pm
Workshops
Eco Workshop with Brenda Hillman
Brenda Hillman
Location: Dead Horse Canyon
(meet at Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Investigative Poetry
Sharon Thesen
Location given at registration
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Open Churchyard: Lyric and Form For People Who Hate Lyric and Form
Robert Lashley
Location given at registration
Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
5:00–7:00 pm
Dinner for Staff, Faculty
7:00–9:00 pm
Keynote Reading:
Robert Lashley, Sharon Thesen, Roberto Harrison, Brenda Hillman, Matt Trease emcee
Location: Rainier Beach Community Club
6038 S Pilgrim St, Seattle, WA 98118
Saturday, October 11, 2025
9:00–9:30 am
Land Acknowledgment, Ken Workman, Duwamish Tribe
9:30–12:00 noon
Panel 1: The Practice of the Self, Practice of Cascadia
Alicia Hokanson, Lorin Medley, Brandon Letsinger, Robert Michael Pyle, Jason Wirth emcee
Panel 2: Resistance
Roxi Power, Roberto Harrison, Katie Sarah Zale, Brenda Cardenas, Brenda Hillman, Jason Wirth moderator
12:00–2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00–3:15 pm
Carbonation Press Showcase:
Greg Bem, Rhea Melina, Zach Charles, Matt Trease, Theresa Whitehill, Paul E Nelson. Greg Bem emcee.
3:30–4:45 pm
Saturday Afternoon Reading:
Lorin Medley, Jim Dott, Katie Sarah Zale, Brenda Cardenas. Matt Trease emcee.
5:00–7:00 pm
Dinner
7:00–9:00 pm
Cascadia mono poem
One poem per poet, no introductions. Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, emcee, with Connie Anthony, Greg Bem, Catalina Cantú, Jim Cantú, Zach Charles, Psalmbrea Doss, Diana Elser, Enrico Favela, Iva Halcheva, Alicia Hokanson, Robert Lashley, Adelia MacWilliam, Nadine Maestas, Rhea Melina,, Lorin Medley, BeeLyn Naihiwet, Paul E Nelson, Kurt Parsons, Roxi Power, Robert Michael Pyle, Haley Spencer, Matt Trease, Theresa Whitehill, & Katie Sarah Zale.
9:00–12:00 midnight
Cascadia Unfiltered with Greg Bem, Veronica Martinez, and Zach Charles
Location:
Jude’s
9252 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Sunday, October 12, 2025
9:00–10:30 am
Learn about Cascadia Poetics LAB with board members and key volunteers at Red Wing Cafe
11:00 am–1:00 pm
Kubota Garden reading
Roxi Power, Alicia Hokanson, Robert Michael Pyle. Jason Wirth emcee.
1:00–2:00 pm
Lunch
2:00–4:00 pm
Winter in America (Again Poets Respond to 2024 Election Reading @ Jude’s, 9252 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Paul E Nelson emcee, Roxi Power, Katie Sarah Zale, Jim Dott, Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, Greg Bem, Zach Charles, Robert Lashley, others.
Location:
Jude’s
9252 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
4:00–8:00 pm
Location:
Jude’s
9252 57th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Poetry Postcard Fest 2026
Early Bird Registration
The Poetry Postcard Fest is an annual 56-day experiment in spontaneity and community building. This literarary event is a self-guided workshop in spontaneous composition where people sign up to send 31 original poems on postcards to folks on a participation list before the end of August. The fest was initiated in 2007 by poets Paul E. Nelson and Lana Ayers, and has grown to include poets participating worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1.
A Salish Perspective on Wellness with Beaver Chief
Hear a Salish perspective on wellness with Beaver Chief. Fred Beaver Chief Jamison was a spiritual leader who brought out the traditional teachings of the Northwest Coast (Native American) Salish people. He discussed his heritage, the songs and stories that are part of the Shaker Indian Doctor tradition, his collection of medicine songs on a C.D., and some of the differences between his culture and “settler” culture, such as concepts of land ownership.
Podcast (prophets-podcast): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:10 — 60.7MB)
Poet as Radio: Writing from Intuition
A 5-week online poetry workshop designed for folks with a wide variety of experience with poetry and with a keen interest in spirituality and the occult. This course is more than a workshop; it’s a journey into the unknown, where you’ll discover hidden messages and ideas both from within yourself and the outside world. Through chance, divination, games, and ritual, you’ll learn to trust your intuition and let your spontaneity guide your writing.
Sundays 3-5:00 PM Pacific Time
September 7 – October 5, 2025
Poet as Radio: Writing from Intuition
A 5-week online poetry workshop designed for folks with a wide variety of experience with poetry and with a keen interest in spirituality and the occult. This course is more than a workshop; it’s a journey into the unknown, where you’ll discover hidden messages and ideas both from within yourself and the outside world. Through chance, divination, games, and ritual, you’ll learn to trust your intuition and let your spontaneity guide your writing.
Sundays 3-5:00 PM Pacific Time
September 7 – October 5, 2025
We will read The H.D. Book together over 5 weeks. It’s a big book, so that’s a lot of reading, but he’s a joy to read, so it’s not exactly onerous. I will probably talk a bit at the beginning of each session and then open it up to the participants. I wrote the introduction. You should read it first. We can talk about that as well. The goal here is to let Duncan lead us into an encounter with the marvelous as we follow his encounter with H.D. as it led him into the depths of history, mind, and soul.
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 PM Pacific Time
September 17 – October 15, 2025
Robert Duncan’s H.D. Book: The Roots of Modernism with Michael Boughn
Robert Duncan’s H.D. Book: The Roots of Modernism with Michael Boughn
We will read The H.D. Book together over 5 weeks. It’s a big book, so that’s a lot of reading, but he’s a joy to read, so it’s not exactly onerous. I will probably talk a bit at the beginning of each session and then open it up to the participants. I wrote the introduction. You should read it first. We can talk about that as well. The goal here is to let Duncan lead us into an encounter with the marvelous as we follow his encounter with H.D. as it led him into the depths of history, mind, and soul.
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30 PM Pacific Time
September 17 – October 15, 2025
Life as Rehearsal for the Poem and Poetics as Cosmology 2025 Workshops
A five week online (Zoom) workshop best suited for continuing participants and more experienced poets (open to open form) in workshops facilitated by Cascadia Poetics Lab and Poetry Postcard Fest Co-Founder Paul E Nelson. Participate in reading and discussion of foundational essays, interviews, listening and other assignments, as well as spontaneous poetry composition exercises. In Fall 2025, we’ll explore a short history of Projective/Outside North American Poetry, focused on:
- Whitman & Dickinson
- WCW & Lorine Niedecker
- Olson and Levertov
- McClure & di Prima
- Daphne Marlatt, Brenda Hillman & Nate Mackey
Life as Rehearsal for the Poem (LARFP)
- Sundays, 3-5 PM PDT
- November 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, 2025
Poetics as Cosmology (PAC)
- Thursdays, 3-5 PM PDT
- October 30, November 6, 13, 20, and December 4, 2025
Cascadia Poetics LAB Blog
Sharon Thesen on Creative Writing and English Departments
In 2014, poet Sharon Thesen gave a talk at a Creative Writing Conference in Vancouver about the state of Creative Writing and English Departments....
CPF9 Friday Workshops!
CPF9 Friday Workshops The 9th Cascadia Poetry Festival is fast approaching! October 10-12, 2025, join us for a gathering and celebration of poetry...
A Salish Perspective on Wellness with Beaver Chief
Hear a Salish perspective on wellness with Beaver Chief. Fred Beaver Chief Jamison was a spiritual leader who brought out the traditional teachings...
Banned Books Panel at the Seattle Library
On October 19, 2025, 2-5 PM, Raven Chronicles Press will be hosting a panel on banned books at the Seattle Downtown Library (Level 4, Room 1). From...
PPF Blurb from Suzanne Beaumont
From PPF 2025 participant Suzanne Beaumont: I am not certain which was more delightful: creating a poem and penning it onto a fun postcard and...
PPF Zoom Afterparty Video!
PPF After Party Video! On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Poetry Postcard Fest committee hosted a Zoom after party for the 2025 Poetry Postcard...
Cascadia Poetics LAB Blog
Sharon Thesen on Creative Writing and English Departments
In 2014, poet Sharon Thesen gave a talk at a Creative Writing Conference in Vancouver about the state of Creative Writing and English Departments....
CPF9 Friday Workshops!
CPF9 Friday Workshops The 9th Cascadia Poetry Festival is fast approaching! October 10-12, 2025, join us for a gathering and celebration of poetry...
A Salish Perspective on Wellness with Beaver Chief
Hear a Salish perspective on wellness with Beaver Chief. Fred Beaver Chief Jamison was a spiritual leader who brought out the traditional teachings...
Thank you
for an enormously sucessful 8th Cascadia Poetry Festival! Make plans for Cascadia Poetry Festival 9 at the Hugo House and other venues October 3, 4, and 5, 2025.
!
We recognize that our home office is on the ancestral homeland of the Duwamish, Muckleshoot and other Coastal Salish tribes. Our dedication to bioregionalism is to co-exist on this land in the sacred manner as practiced by the traditional ways of these indigenous people.
Statement on Ahimsa by Board Member Jason Wirth
January 20, 2021
The (Poetry Postcard Fest) and the Cascadia Poetry Festival (are) connected… When you’re writing poetry… part of poetry is the craft… rules (to be understood) in a variety of contexts… (Craft is…) a necessary but not sufficient condition. You’re also… experiencing your mind, at a very deep level. And that mind as you experience it more deeply, is not in a vacuum… It’s now and here… rooted in the socio-economic and ecological conditions that make it possible. And participating in… the spiritual exercise of these postcards, is already entering into… a deep bioregional awakening and conversion. In a way we’re trying for something like a spiritual revolution, and that poetry is not just an interesting thing that you can do, if you like. It’s a fundamental exercise of being here in a less harmful way… it’s a deep ahimsa, a deep practice of non-harming and cultivation. And so, it’s all connected… And… our ambition is… trying to have a mind that would be capable, of being in this place in a better way… We’re going to live or die, by how we come down on these issues going forward.