Poetry Postcard Fest 2027
Registration IS OPEN
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 & must 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.
Poetry as Neuro-Resilience
Explore practices that help keep consciousness attuned to the realities of the world - and discover how poetry can emerge from that depth. In this five-week workshop, Paul E. Nelson guides participants through readings, interviews, journaling, and writing exercise rooted in the Cascadia bioregion. All levels are welcome; openness and a commitment to the practice are all that's required.
Learn more about Poetry as Neuro-Resilience →
Suggested donation: $130–$275
Saturday Cohort
Saturdays 9-11 AM Pacific Time
November 21, 2026 – December 19, 2026
Sunday Cohort
Sundays 3-5 PM Pacific Time
November 22, 2026 – December 20, 2026
How it Works
The fest is a self-guided 56 day workshop in spontaneous composition and community. Click to learn more about How it Works.
Poetry Postcard Fest News
Volunteers Need for Postcard Activations + CPL News
News about Poetry Postcard Activations in Rainier Beach, a new Rainier Beach Arts Roundtable and the recent CPL board decision to lay off all staff.
Rainier Beach Poetry Postcard Activations
Poetry Postcard “Activations” with postcard collage-making materials, postcards, pens, scissors and a grid for the words that will go into the creation of a Personal Universe Deck for each park where we plan events.
CPL Featured Poet – Martha Clarkson
CPL Featured Poets To continue to extend our gratitude to the generosity of our community, Cascadia Poetics Lab is featuring the work of our supporters! If you’ve participated in an CPL program and...
Cascadia 2050 in Vancouver!
On Friday, January 31 and Friday, February 6, Cascadia 2050 members Zach Charles, Ankober Yewondwossen and myself (Veronica Martinez) drove to Vancouver, Washington to host guest poetry workshops...
JOIN US for Postcard Activation Events!
FREE Postcard Activation Events in Seattle this Spring! JOIN US for a series of free outdoor postcard poetry gatherings in Seattle’s Rainier Beach neighborhood! Celebrating the 20th season of Poetry...
Daysong Workshop Jan. 22 & 25 VIDEO
How to write a ritual poem in one day in the manner of Pierre Joris and Bernadette Mayer.
Interview with Postcard Poet Laura Gamache
Part of the Cascadia 2050 mission is: to inspire artists and poets of the next generation to consider bioregionalism and intuitive poetic approach as a way to foster a more just and sustainable Cascadia by 2050. To this end, one of our goals is to interview people who help us spread awareness by having practices in their lives that reflect these values. This interview with Postcard Poet Laura Gamache, a Seattle who has published poetry in the usual places, such as chapbooks, journals and anthologies, and also unusual places, such as buses, is the first of the series.
20th annual Poetry Postcard Fest Special Project
Hello Postcarders, Bioregionalists, Poets, et.al, I am writing you today on behalf of Cascadia 2050 to invite you to participate in a special project honoring the 20th Poetry Postcard Festival. We...
CJ Prince Has Passed
The Conversation Continues: A Gedenkschrift for C.J. Prince
The Poetry Postcard Fest, initiated by poets Paul Nelson and Lana Ayers in 2007, invites participants to create and send 31 original poems on postcards throughout August. The fest emphasizes spontaneity, with poems written in one take directly onto postcards for recipients worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1, and participants receive a list of fellow poets to exchange cards with. A $15 contribution supports the Cascadia Poetics LAB, and scholarships are available. For more details and resources on postcard poetry, visit How it Works or check out related essays and wrap-ups from past participants.
How the Poetry Postcard Fest Works
Abhaya Thomas Postcard
How the Poetry Postcard Fest Works
The Poetry Postcard Fest, initiated by poets Paul Nelson and Lana Ayers in 2007, invites participants to create and send 31 original poems on postcards throughout August. The fest emphasizes spontaneity, with poems written in one take directly onto postcards for recipients worldwide. Registration opens annually on September 1, and participants receive a list of fellow poets to exchange cards with. A $15 contribution supports the Cascadia Poetics LAB, and scholarships are available. For more details and resources on postcard poetry, visit How it Works or check out related essays and wrap-ups from past participants.
Abhaya Thomas Postcard