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
497. Levertov Butterfly Nation
Not too many postcard poems from 2014 left. (Whew!) This one features another Germán Montalvo image and is an homage to Denise Levertov. Long live the organic! (Well, until it decomposes.) A link to...
496. The Occasional Chicharrón
496. The Occasional Chicharrón has more Congress and Puebla reflections, another reference to Vargas Lugo’s butterfly nation flags and the impending USAmerican football season, the advent of which...
495. Hazards
493. Rose Petals & Chicharrónes
The latest postcard poem from the 2014 August Poetry Postcard Fest. August 19, 2014, Seattle, WA "Holiness does not dissolve, it is a presence / of bronze." - Denise Levertov The Cholula sacramental...
492. Star Lings
An August poetry postcard sent to Linda Roller.
490. Bronzing Mexican Air
Another 2014 August Poetry Postcard Poem written in Puebla, Mexico, when I was attending the 14th Subud World Congress. Again a reference to Pablo Vargas Lugo and the exhibit at Museo Amparo.
Marge Merrill RIP (A Tribute by Karen Lee Lewis)
MARGARET “MARGE” MERRILL, a life-long resident of Western New York and longtime participant in its poetry community, died suddenly on July 22 after a brief illness. She was 70. A former host of the...
Nina Murray’s Postcard Sourcing Tips
Nina Murray has a wonderful post about the fest and about where SHE gets postcards: So I thought I’d take this opportunity to list my all-time favorite sources of postcards (the listings are not...
2021 Poetry Postcard Fest Stats
The numbers are in for year 15 of the Poetry Postcard Fest, as registration has ended (FINALLY) and the poets at Casa del Colibrí can move on to their own poetry postcard production and the next...
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