A few months ago I joined a poetry postcard exchange group. I’ve received creative handmade postcards and poems from people I’ve never met. It is so much fun to find one tucked into my mailbox, a bit of sunshine on a cloudy day. I need to figure out a way to keep them so that I can enjoy both sides. Any ideas?
This month I sent out a photo card I made on Canva using a photo of passion flower.
finds a prayer
on the passion vine
resting on yellow anther
sprinkling pollen
on bumblebees.
The hope is in the bee’s
instinct to stick around.
Margaret Simon
I’m also participating in the Summer Poem Swap that Tabatha organizes. I received a Little Golden Book handmade book from Linda Mitchell. I love that she kept all the pages from the original book.
I’m using it to do collage journaling about my summer. Here is a page spread I made about birds. The watercolor goldfinch is from an Emily Lex Studio watercolor painting book.
In what ways are you embracing poetry and creativity this summer?
I want to thank Joyce Uglow for featuring me and my book “What’s That Sound? Birds of the Bayou” on her uGroNews series this week.
I have moved “This Photo Wants to be a Poem” to my Substack. Please consider subscribing so that it will show up in your inbox.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, let me know if you figure out how to enjoy both sides. The only way I can think is a digital frame where you upload to a scrolling photo kiosk but that takes away the original piece. I love your creative spirit! It shines brightly!
Hi Margaret, postcard swap is delightful and what beautiful gifts of art in your mailbox. I’ve used photo corner (stickers) by Canson so I can pull things in a journal and also a single binder ring. But of course you have to hole punch them in the latter case, which can be harder to do on the art:)
I think we need to JJ as an aside, at PP in the fall! Love Linda’s journal. I’m trying to embrace making more handmade art papers to add to my poetry and creativity this summer. I’ve got your link for PF, thanks for all the creative inspiration!
Thanks for getting my link. I was having trouble posting a comment. It would be great to add junk journaling to our time together this fall. Any kind of crafting (collage, painting, zines) adds another level to the poetry game.
What fun you’re having with poetry and all the arts that support it!
What lovely journaling, Margaret! I’ll look for “This Photo Wants to Be a Poem.” Thank you.
Love all your creativity, Margaret! So soothing to use your hands and mind to make something. Linda’s Little Golden Book journal is cool! Sweet hummingbird.
I love everything about this post! Sunshine in the mailbox, your birds filling pages made by Linda…so much goodness! This month I’ve been quilting! xo
Quilting! That is a long term commitment. I’ve only made one quilt in my life. My sister made a small one for my youngest grandson using my father’s shirts. It is such a special gift.
Mrgaret, I love that your blog post revolves around nature, creativity, and poetry. It is a wonderful way to spend the summer. Linda’s Little Golden Book journal brings back memories of childhood. Happy Summering.
Margaret, those postcards are all so beautiful. I’m enjoying the monthly postcard exchanges, and I’m also doing the longer Poetry Postcard Fest, sending out a postcard almost every day for the month of July (and into August). I received a lovely journal from Linda too for the poetry swap. So much good poetry this summer. It makes it easier to keep up with the Stafford Challenge. I love the poet in your poem finding a prayer in nature.
So much creativity on display here, Margaret! I love the bird page in your journal!
Poetry-art-art-poetry … such a beautiful carousel for summer.
Oh I often use poetry postcards as bookmarks. One year, I made Golden Books into journals. A friend was hosting a craft night and that’s what I took. That’s been ages ago, but it was fun!
Thanks for the idea to use poetry postcards as bookmarks. I feel like I should have thought of that!
Oh, and I meant to say I love finding a prayer on a passion vine. Just lovely.
How appropriate to find a prayer and a poem in a passion flower, Margaret. Beautiful!
What a lovely and happy post. I’m just starting to catch up after getting home from my trip. It’s so good to see you using your journal. That makes my heart happy. And, a poet’s prayer found in a passion flower…just perfect.