The signup is now complete for the 2014 August Poetry Postcard Fest. We have 423 participants & they come from: Alabama, Alberta, Arizona, Australia, British Columbia, California, Canada, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, France, Germany, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, India, Indiana, Japan, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, New Zealand, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pakistan, Pennsylvania, Singapore, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, UK, USA, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wales, Washington, West Virginia & Wisconsin.
Comment below if I have missed something. I have added all postcard participants to the twice-weekly email so they can be informed about developments and next year’s call. Unsubscribing is easy, as there is a link at the bottom of every email.
Peru: Kingdom of the Sun and the Moon (Montreal Museum of Fine Art)
Directions:
Tomorrow (Sunday, July 27th) look at the list you were emailed to find your name. (Control F is a handy tool.) See the three people listed below your name. Write them each an original poem on a postcard, put their address on the card and affix the necessary postage. $1.15 for international cards leaving the U.S. Consider scanning your cards or photographing them to document each poem/card before you send them out. Do not recycle old poems for this. Do not compose a long poem in advance and cut it up into hunks for this. It is an experiment in composing in the moment and your poem has an audience of one. This is designed in part as a conversation.
(If you are near the bottom of the list, send a card to anyone below you then start again at the top.) Ideally, you would write 3 different short poems — remember they are being composed on a postcard and please keep your handwriting clear. If your handwriting is lousy, typing the poems is ok. After the first 3, you only have 28 more to go. Some write more, but please do commit to 31 total IDEALLY sending them by August 31. And please wait a month before posting poems online.
Write about something that relates to your sense of “place” however you interpret that, something about how you relate to the postcard image, what you see out the window, what you’re reading, a dream you had that morning, or an image from it, etc. Like “real” postcards, get to something of the “here and now” when you write. Present tense is preferred… Do write original poems for the project. Taking old poems and using them is not what we have in mind. You may want to use epigraphs. One participant last year used his daily I Ching divination to inform his poems.
As you begin getting poems on August 1 (ideally) incorporate a tone, an image, some content or ignore them if uninspired and start writing a poem a day to at least 28 more people. Write at least 31 poems and send at least 31 cards. (These would be the 4th through 31st people below you on your list.) Hopefully you’ll get something that inspires. If not, you’re on your own. Some people get few cards for all they send out. Some people send out more than 31. If you are not getting cards, or are traveling, you can still participate. Don’t worry.
This is also an experiment in community consciousness. Try to respond to cards that you get with subject, image or any kind of link if possible. Often newsworthy events happen in August. How would our community respond? Letting a card that you receive linger for a while before you respond to the next person on your list is the preferred method. When you go to your mail box each day, put the bills aside, read the poems you get and think about them as you compose to the next person on your list.
A. Hayes A.R. Perez Aaron Deutsch Aaron Severance Abeo Tisdale Abhaya Thomas Alison Jennings Alley Greymond Allyson Boggess Amanda Dowd Amanda Rose Adams Amorak Huey Amy Miller Andrew Bell Andy Berisford Andy King Andy Meyer Aneata K. O’Brien Angela La Voie Angie Tsiamas Ann Hudson Anna Elkins Anna Mavromati Anne Rutland Anthony Kolasny Arlene Naganawa Arlo Jacob Smith Art Tulee Athena Nation Avis Adams Ayelet Amittay Barbara Faust Barbara Jean Walsh Barbara McMichael Becky Liebman Benjamin Cook Beth Pietrzak Beth Severson Beth Weaver-Kreider Bethany Bennett Bette Lynch Husted Bev Fesharaki Bhakti Watts Bill Freind Birgit Heidorn Bree Rolfe Brenda McVey Brendan McBreen Bridget Nutting Bronwen Tate Bruce -/:}> Greeley Bucky Rea C. Stewart C.J. Prince Camille-Yvette Welsch Carla Shafer CarlaJean Valluzzi Carlton Johnson Carol A. Stephen Carol Brockfield Carol Dorf Carol Frischmann Carol Keslar Carol McMillan Carol Zubick Carole Evelyn Caroline M Davies Carolyn A. Dragon Carolyn Adams Carolyn Everett Carolyn Maddux Catherine (Cathy) Kigerl Catherine Alice Michaelis Catherine Daly Catherine Lewis Cathleen Miller CD Williamson Celeste Oster Cezanne Hardy Charlie Stobert Cheryl Waitkevich Chris Jarmick Christine Clarke Christine M. Kendall Christopher Moore Cinda Hocking Colleen Coyne Connie Peters Courtney Birst Cristine Naylor Czandra/ Sandra Stephenson Dairine Pearson Dana Bennett Daniel L. Smith Darlene Costello Dave Stankowicz David Nelson Dean Pfaender Deb Drotos Deb Stone Deborah Brandon Deborah Crooks Deborah Hauser Deborah Miranda Deborah Osborne Deborah Sevett Denise Hill Denise Tsiamas Desiree Morales Desiree Wright Dheepikaa Balasubramanian Diane Cammer Diane Vogt Dino Shiatis Dona Michelini Donna Dakota Dr. Nurit Israeli Edee Lemonier Eileen “Lucy” M-Babbitt Eileen Elliott Elena Akers Elena Coe Elise Ficarra Elizabeth Aamot Elizabeth Beck Elizabeth Carroll Hayden Elizabeth Woods Ellen O Setteducati Ellen Shaman Eugenia Petty Evan Farnsworth Gabriella M. Belfiglio Gah-Kai Leung Gail Goepfert Giancarlo Campagna Grace Liew Greg Johnson Gregory Chamberlin Guy Holliday H.V. Cramond Hannah Fox Hannah Kuechler Hannah Marshall Hannah Thomassen Heather Mydosh Heidi Buchi Helen Kerner Helen Waits Helene Berlin Helga Fernandes Hera Suganthy Ina Roy Irene J. Walker J R Turek J. Phillip Walker Jacqueline Hallenbeck Jacyra Guard James Williams Jamie Robinson Jan Weston Janelle Maloch Janet McCann Janine Fitzgerald Janka Hobbs Jean Blakeman Jean Urciolo Jeanna Motmans Jef Blocker Jeff Oaks Jen Karetnick Jenni B. Baker Jennifer Chushcoff Jennifer Lemming Jessica Booth Jessica Goodfellow Jessie Lyle Jill Crammond Jilo Tisdale Jim Smith Jim Teeters Joanne Clarkson Joanne Diaz, Dept of English Joanne Sunshower Jodie Curtis Jody Brooks Jody Plant Joe Chiveney John Burgess Josh Medsker Judy Jensen Judy Kleinberg Judy Mayhew Judy Wapp Julie Biggs Julie K Eastland Julie Swarstad Johnson Kaili Doud Kala Zanis Karen Lee Lewis Karen Marshall Karen Vande Bossche Karie Wilkerson Karima Bondi Kate Wylie Kathleen Miniely Kathleen Miniely Kathy Paul Kathy Shoemaker Katie Kurtz Katie Woodzick Katrina Roberts Katy June Abrams Kay Kinghammer Kazumi Chin Keli Osborn Kelleyanne Pearce Kelly Andrews Kelly Terwilliger Khadija Anderson Khara House Kim Clark Kim Grabowski Kirsten Miles Kit Ayars Kristin Cleage Williams Kristina McDonald L. Lisa Lawrence L.A. Nichols Lalarukh Lasharie Laura Hooper Laura L. Snyder Laura LeHew Laura Pena Laurel Evans Laurel Radzieski Lauren Robinson Laurence Ebersole Laurice Roberts Laurie Duncan Lea Anne Lake Lea Galanter Leslie Edwards-Hill Liana Silva-Ford Libby Maxey Linda A Roller Linda Barnes Linda Crosfield Linda Drajem Linda Fideler Linda Hofke Linda Lee Harper Linda Malnack Linda Russo Linda Saccoccio Lindsey Martin-Bowen Lisa Choi Lisa Grable Lisa Janice Cohen Liz Wiley Liza Case Lorri Kennedy Lowell Murphree Lucinda Huffine Lydia K. Roberts Lydia Swartz Lylanne Musselman Lynne Shapiro M Jean Busch Maitri Sojourner Mallory Hamilton Marc Thompson Marc Tretin Marga Webb Margaret Santhanam Margaret Watson Margarette Wahl Marge Merrill Margo Jodyne Dills Margo Solod Mariama Salon Marian Devney Marie Buckley Marissa McNamara Marjorie Rommel Marjorie Norris Mark S. Kenzer Martha Kaplan Martha Kreiner Martha Scoville Martina Robinson Mary Beth Frezon Mary Ellen Bertram Mary Ellen Wade Mary Healey Mary MacDonald Mary Sexson Matt Trease Max Motmans Maxine Lang McArthur Gilstrap Meena Rose Meg Eubank Megan Muthupandiyan Megan Reed Mel Lam Melissa Borries Melissa Eleftherion Carr Melissa Schuppe Meredith Holmes Merrill Farnsworth Michael Eddie Anderson Michael Haeflinger Michaela Drapes Michelle A. Ladwig Michelle Ballou Michelle Lin Michelle Oakes Mik Everett Monica Schley Ms. Gay Guard-Chamberlin Nadia Szara Nancy Canyon Nandini Seshadri Naomi Lloyd Nessa Jay Meraki Nicholas Kolasny Olivia Olivia Paige Polcene Pam Teufel Pat Kennelly Patricia Hale Patricia McCann Patricia Oliman Longoria Patricia Smith Patsy Shepherd Patti White Paul E Nelson Peggy Miller Phebe Davidson Polly Esther Rachel Barton Rachel Wysocki Rachelle Cruz Raúl Sánchez Ravenna Taylor Raymond Maxwell Rebecca Coale Rebecca Fullan Rebecca Lincoln Rebecca Robinson Rhoda Neshama Waller Rich Maschner Rita Chapman Robert L. Cox Robert Lee Haycock Robert Zverina Robin Moore Rooze Garcia Rosanne Braslow Ruby Kane Russ Golata Ryki Zuckerman S.E.Ingraham Samantha Solomon Samantha Solomon Samar Abulhassan Sandra Guerreiro Sara Aranda Sara Fargo Sara Jameson Sara Mwagura Sara Parrell Sara Stolpe Sarah Arnold Sarah Baker Sarah Koenig Savonna Johnson Sean & Katy Wallace Shae Savoy Shaindel Beers Shannon Frech Sharon Auberle Shaun Solomon Shauna Potocky Shayla Hawkins Shelley Nameroff Shelley Peters Skaidrite Stelzer Sohini Basak Somdutta Sarkar Sonja Hansard-Weiner Stacy Christie Stephanie Cawley Stephanie Motz Steve Woodall Susan M Troccolo Susan Pigman Susan Tuzzolino Susan Tuzzolino Suzanne Villegas T. Clear Tamesa Williams Tanya Korigan Tanya Neumeyer Taylor Brooks Tegan Swanson Teresa Jarmick Terry Holzman Theresa Pappas Tiffany Schramm Tim Mateer Toni Hanner Tony Iovino Trisha Miller Trudy Stern Upasna Saha Urvashi Bahuguna Vera Naputi Violet Juno Virginia Bach Folger Virginia Shank Walter Lowe Wendy Friel Wendy Sarno Wendy Vardaman
Paul Nelson is founder of SPLAB in Seattle and the Cascadia Poetry Festival. He wrote a collection of essays, Organic Poetry & a serial poem re-enacting the history of Auburn, WA, A Time Before Slaughter (shortlisted for a 2010 Genius Award by The Stranger.) He’s interviewed Allen Ginsberg, Michael McClure, Wanda Coleman, Anne Waldman, Sam Hamill, Robin Blaser, Nate Mackey, Eileen Myles, George Bowering, Diane di Prima, Brenda Hillman, George Stanley, Joanne Kyger & many Cascadia poets, has presented his poetry and poetics in London, Brussels, Qinghai and Beijing, China, Lake Forest, Illinois and other places & writes an American Sentence every day. www.PaulENelson.com
I have updated the list, but hope people will be able to figure this one out, eh? We’ll see. Those at the bottom of the field of 100 (& 200, 300,400) were tricky.
I joined the Facebook group last week but don’t see my name and didn’t get an e-mail – can I still be in? rhfike@mindspring.com – Thanks! – Rupert Fike
The Facebook group exists to create awareness of the fest, its cutoff and issues with negotiating the fest. The deadline was set for Saturday night, so sorry about not getting you in this year. Next year’s call is in 340 days: https://paulenelson.com/august-poetry-postcard-fest/ Subscribe to the blog there to keep informed about the next call and other poetry-related issues. Thanks for your interest Rupert.
Haha, such a small glitch really on such a huge list! I am just sad that it reduces the total number of poets signed up. Anyhow, over 400 is really a lot of people.. if everyone really sent 31 postcards there are over 12K postcards and poems circulating.. and mine will be some in that. What a humbling fest this is! Thanks so much for putting this together, really. Again, enjoy poem-ing! See you in a postcard.
A few glitches, yes. I am considering how to streamline for next year. This has taken so much energy that I am not as far along on my OWN postcards! Thanks for participating. Paul
Yay! Let the fun begin…
Kathleen Miniely appears twice: 400 & 402.
Thanks Sonja.
Thanks, Paul! Susan Tuzzolino appears twice also: 399 and 401.
I have updated the list, but hope people will be able to figure this one out, eh? We’ll see. Those at the bottom of the field of 100 (& 200, 300,400) were tricky.
I joined the Facebook group last week but don’t see my name and didn’t get an e-mail – can I still be in? rhfike@mindspring.com – Thanks! – Rupert Fike
The Facebook group exists to create awareness of the fest, its cutoff and issues with negotiating the fest. The deadline was set for Saturday night, so sorry about not getting you in this year. Next year’s call is in 340 days: https://paulenelson.com/august-poetry-postcard-fest/ Subscribe to the blog there to keep informed about the next call and other poetry-related issues. Thanks for your interest Rupert.
Hi Paul – Samantha Solomon repeated in #313 and #326.. Happy August Postcard Poetry Fest!
Ai Yi Yi! Fire the data processor!
Haha, such a small glitch really on such a huge list! I am just sad that it reduces the total number of poets signed up. Anyhow, over 400 is really a lot of people.. if everyone really sent 31 postcards there are over 12K postcards and poems circulating.. and mine will be some in that. What a humbling fest this is! Thanks so much for putting this together, really. Again, enjoy poem-ing! See you in a postcard.
A few glitches, yes. I am considering how to streamline for next year. This has taken so much energy that I am not as far along on my OWN postcards! Thanks for participating. Paul
Thanks so much for all your hard work, Paul!
I did not sign-up this year (I did last year) but today I received a postcard from someone on this list!
How can that be?
Somebody loves you.
Perfect answer!
But can you tell me if I am on the list but not listed?
Thanks and have a great day!
Jim Karnitz was added as #424, in an email dated 7/28. But the new list from today doesn’t show his name.
Yes! Please add him back!
Paul
Paul,
I was looking forward to the bi-weekly emails, but have not received any. Can you add me to the list? Thanks! Marc(#109)