Support Cascadia Poetics Lab and Poetry Postcard Fest May 6-7

Thank you for being a postcard poet! We are gearing up for another summer of postcards and postcard events, more information on the way! A lot of tireless work goes into these events, and it’s always so fulfilling to be able to see them come together, meet postcard poets and invite others to join the fest. Meeting postcard poets, either virtually or in person, and hearing about your experience with the fest and spontaneous composition is why we do this. Personally, participating in PPF as both a poet and CPL staff gives me an opportunity to remember to take a step back, to have moments of my day where my intention is with writing and the moment, not everything else on my mind. It’s so enriching and has impacted my approach to writing for life. And the genuine love you all have for this fest inspires me every year! Thank you!

In order to continue hosting events and keep the price of registration as low as possible, we are always grateful for your ongoing generosity and support. We ask you to consider extending your generosity again by donating to our Give BIG campaign May 6-7. Any level of donation is appreciated and will aid in our efforts to increase capacity so that we can both maintain and expand our offerings with new workshops and events! Sponsorships of the Poetry Postcard Fest with an annual donation of $1000 will receive a link to your business, book, or other personal projects on our website and your logo will be represented in our weekly emails. Learn more about donation levels and donate to Cascadia Poetics Lab for Give BIG by clicking HERE. Thank you so much for your ongoing dedication to this community and the work we do.

PPF 2022 TESTIMONIALS

We love talking to you about your experience with the Poetry Postcard Fest. If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, you are always welcome to contact me (Veronica) by clicking HERE. We would love to hear your thoughts during and after the 2025 Poetry Postcard Fest. Below are testimonials from postcards poets of PPF 2022:

Joe Cottonwood

For an introverted poet (and aren’t we all?) the fest is like a great party – hiding our faces behind postcards we can touch – we can dance and be playful – and unlock some fine poetry…

Charlene Neely

I first participated in 2010 I believe and then could not for many years. Got started again 3 years ago and love it even more than that first time. I have sent and received cards from all over the world and become friends with many of these. It ties me to the world as a whole.

Teri Buthman Mahl

As much as I love writing poetry, what I love about participating is the connections I made (though brief) when I receive a postcard in my mailbox. It makes me remember that we are all one and gives me a glimpse into lives of people I may never meet in person but I have “seen” them…their creative spirit, their emotions, their love. Poetry postcards are a reminder to open my heart.

Judy Kleinberg – PPF Committee Member

The Poetry Postcard Fest is both community and practice. This simple medium gives each of us an opportunity to find and share our own voice. Since I first participated, in 2011, writing a short, unprompted poem each day has evolved from a one-month-a-year activity to a daily habit. During that time, I’ve exchanged postcards with hundreds of people, actually met a few in person, and enlarged my poetry network far beyond the local. The connections are vital and I often find myself surprised to remember that I’ve not actually met most of these wonderful poets and artists.

Neal Lemery

The project ramped up my writing, and my appreciation for the “daily write” discipline. What a celebration of the art of poetry and writing! I received such great and inspiring poems from strangers who became colleagues and fellow artists.

Mary Beth Frezon – Participant since 2014

The Poetry Postcard Fest has been a wonderful way for the past nine years to sink into the daily writing habit, to be ever watchful for a scrap of life that can be woven into a short poem and shared. Could I just challenge myself to write for 31 days? Sure. I know that the community aspect is important – folks are excited to hear that their cards have arrived at their destinations. They want to be a part of this poetry network that reaches in so many directions and all across the world. While the poems aren’t shared generally, many people will say – got your card and poem thanks!, or often folks will post a “group shot” of received cards and poets will say – oh, I see my card! So there is a real pleasure in writing daily and sending but also in knowing that someone received and read your words, written on a day in August.

Penelope Moffet

The postcard poetry festival feels like this exciting, perpetually renewing gift I get to unwrap every day while the festival is going on, never knowing what I’ll find to write onto the back of the daily postcard, never knowing what exquisite offering will land in my mailbox from another poet.

Mary Skeen

So many fests I’ve lost count, maybe 8. Connecting with friends new & old, sharing love of words & postcards is such a joy. Synchronicity is an exciting surprise bonus.

Jessica Gershon

(The Poetry Postcard Fest) is what my soul needed. It has introduced me to parts of myself that I never knew existed. It’s the inspiration for me to create art and poetry all at once. I don’t just write poetry.. I get to connect with other poets, I get to create art in the form of painting or collages. When I finish a card I feel so accomplished. This fest has really impacted my life and my true passion. I’m very thankful for my discovery of this event. I love it so much that I make postcards year around now..and it’s become a huge part of who I am! Thanks Paul Nelson I’m forever inspired and grateful.

Charlie Stobert

I have been involved in the fest since its inception, I think; about 15 years. It has allowed me to connect with new people and in particular new posts and their poetry from around the world! It has become an important annual practice for me and my writing.

Elizabeth Maxey

This will be my 11th year with the fest, and I can’t imagine a year without it. August is the one month when I allow myself to prioritize poetry over other things, because somewhere out there, somebody is counting on me to write. I love, too, the fest’s validation of short poems, which deserve more credit than the publishing world often gives them. We CAN say more with less!

Colette Dutton

The Postcard Poetry Festival offers a brief foray (56 days…) all on the space of a postcard into the imagination or one’s own reality. My poems are connected (or not!) to the art. The art and the word, the giving and receiving – there is a sense of magic, for me, year after year.

Margaret Ripperger

The Postcard Poetry Festival 2021 was my first. I put all of my cards with original poetry in the mail early in the month as I was looking forward to receiving replies to mine. Was not disappointed.

Jessica Temple

I’ve participated several times, though inconsistently. As a professor, August is a very busy month for me full of syllabi, lesson prep, and meetings. Poetry Postcard Fest is important in that it gives me the necessary motivation for the creative bust I need to start the school year on a positive, energetic note.

Noreen Hyde

I have participated for five years. I just love the creativity on all levels — making or finding postcards, having complete freedom within the constraints of a small space to create poems. It is so encouraging and affirming, and so so fun to get ekphrastic mail instead of just bills. It also impacts my family every august because I share the poems I write and the ones I receive. Best $10 I ever spent!!! Thank you for creating and continuing this community!!!

Linda Roller

A community of friends over the years A chance to learn different poetic prompts from other poet’s. Poetry is shared with artwork at times of the poets, inspiring other’s. The Poetry Postcard fest is meant to be fun & it is, inspiring new poet’s every year It amazes me how dedicated the participating poet’s are for sharing their words. Poetry can be everywhere.

Amy Miller

This will be my 10th year doing the Poetry Postcard Fest, and I’m already looking forward to its mix of structure and intimacy — a unique writing marathon in a world of ever more of them. Having to fit a poem onto a postcard, and knowing that the recipient is waiting for it at the other end, allows me freedom to experiment, surprise, and sometimes weave a sequence of poems into a larger story.

Trilla Nordyke Pando

The delight of reaching to make friend with my words, and the sheer joy of receiving a message of a once-upon-a-stranger reaching out through the mail to me.

Ingrid Bruck

I’ve been participating in PoetryFest for seven years. The postcard art and poems are so often splendid. The month of surprises in my mailbox are pure pleasure!

Jennifer Rood

I just discovered the Poetry Postcard Fest in 2020–the year the pandemic began. This will be my 3rd year, so I am still a newbie. But I can say that having only participated during pandemic years… I have really loved the connection with other people. I enjoy the purposeful intentionality of creating each postcard and poem, which is a gift to a stranger, and I love receiving the gifts from others. This fest makes me look forward to August, and I’m already working on the postcards I will send this year!

Karen Loeb

I love participating in the poetry postcard fest. This will be my 3rd year. I’ve learned so much about letting one small image be the poem. And I love figuring out what image I’ll use on the card—usually a photo I’ve taken to go with the poem.

Daniel Smith

Invited by a fellow beekeeper poet in France to give it a go, Paul Nelson’s spontaneously composed Poetry Postcards seasons have seen me through a complete alpine sonata, six published collections of poems from 2014 when I first became involved, and even open heart surgery (I was taking one of Paul’s famously incredible courses on poetics at the time). I heartily recommend the mind opening potential of writing a poem without editing and sending it down the blue box slide on its way to someone with whom you’ll sure to become friends. Along the way, I have written kernels of greatness and all sorts of beginnings. Recommend without reservation!