rooted red
the colors spill out
confettied
above ground
dancing towards the sun singing
a chorus of blooms
Last year I participated in POPO the August POetry POstcard Fest–where the challenge is to send a different postcard with a poem you’ve composed for each day in August, 31 in all. I meant to post 2 cards every few weeks and finish up just before POPO 2021. But in my usual fashion, I’m only now posting the third pair.
I decided to do shadormas, as they would fit easily on the back of a postcard, and to connect them through repeating part of the last line of each poem to the first line of the poem for the next day. The last line of the poem from day 4 was “visible, rooted”
a chorus
of absurdity
reaches for
the empty
mind to fill it with visions
of nothing at all
I did not have a theme for the actual postcards I made in 2020, but this year I’m going to continue with the moon photos I did for the Kick-About. You don’t need to make or alter your own postcards, though–at least one I received last year was just a post office postcard with a poem on it. Or you can just buy 3l postcards and write a poem on the front or back or both.
A number of people last year expressed interest in participating this year, so here’s the link if you want to sign up. It’s not only a fun creative challenge, but you end up with 31 interesting postcard poems from all over the United States and the world. Twenty days until registration closes.
And here’s my original post with a photo of some of the postcards I received. They actually trickled in for several months afterwards.
K. 
Thanks for the reminder, K. I’ve been on the mailing list for awhile, have purchased the postcards, but have yet to register. Collage seems like the way to go for me also. I like the ones you posted today.
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Thanks Jade. I’m looking forward to it, but I need to get to work on the cards. On my list this week.
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You’re welcome. It might be the motivation I need to clean off my table and get to work on it.
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Update: I’m now registered AND cleaned my table off. Ready to rock and roll! I read the guidelines on the site. I saw in one place it said you can get started as soon as you get your list it doesn’t have to be on Aug. 1 to send them out. Do you have any tips for me?
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I don’t think there are too many rules. They have a Zoom orientation on Saturday, which I’m going to try to watch–the link is on the website. Last year I was still getting postcards in October, but most came by mid-September. I did one poem per day, as that was manageable for me, but sometimes I mailed them in groups.
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OK sounds pretty laid back
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How strange! I’ve just posted, read yours, and the last stanza of my poem is very like your first shadorma.
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It is! It’s the right season.
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Everything sending out its shoots and its fledglings.
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This is so beautiful. ❤ The idea and your part in it. It reminds me of the good old days. I loved postcards since a very young age, both getting them and writing them. I stopped. Our post service is not reliable and there is only the community mailbox. Besides, it's expensive, especially international mail.
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Send me your address and I’ll send you a card in August too. memadtwo@gmail.com
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You’re soooo kind! But I won’t be here in August and I’d hate for it to get lost.
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When you’re back then. I send postcards out all year.
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I sent you an email, you’ll see my idea.
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A good one.
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Beautiful, Kerfe! I do remember you mentioning it last year. It sounds like a fun idea, but I have too much going on to participate.
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Thanks Merril. I always have too much going on (how can that be when I’m retired?) but I’m going to make it work.
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I remember you doing this last year Kerfe! It’s such a beautiful idea. I wonder if it’s possible to participate from outside the US…I’ll read up!
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It is! I got and sent postcards from and to England.
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Oh great, in that case I will have a look…
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