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Personal Poetry Projects- Depatches From Verseville And More

 During Covid when my home state of Victoria entered a protracted lockdown I started some personal poetry projects. One was 'Covid Chronicles,'  a collection of short poems of personal reflection which eventually were submitted to a time capsule intiated by Australia Post. 

I also started posting poetry over two week intervals on a tree on the reserve behind our house. The reserve runs for approxiately 400 metres, between houses, before ending at Fisherman's Beach. People, families and dog walkers walk its length each day. I hear them from my writing cave.

The poems were initially displayed under the banner- The Poet Tree. This humble project commenced in August 2020 and continued until September 2023, clearly immune to Covid.

A huge storm completely blew away one of the posts and I took it as a sign to bring the project to a close. I was also looking at fresh projects to pursue, so it was timely. 

Feedback indicated people missed the regular posting of poems, so in early 2024, I recommenced posting poems on the same tree under the banner-'Despatches From Verseville.' -And so the sharing of poetry continues.

Each poem remains posted on the tree for approximately 2 weeks before being replaced. After their time in the wilds, the poems are brought inside and given a safe resting place in one of my writer's notebooks. Some come back a little tattered and torn, but I am able to salvage them for poetic posterity. 

Below you will find a sample of some of my reclaimed poems now nestling within various notebooks.




However, I am not resting there...
I am embarking on a new personal poetry project and on World Poetry Day I am launching my poetry gift project!

I will be leaving a single poem in an envelope in various locations I visit over the next three months. Each poem will be safely housed in an envelope and gifted to the finder. My hope is that they will choose to further share that poem. It's a poetry profile riser within my own community...

It is Poetry Friday and this week our host is Rose Capelli.  Rose shares some favourite Spring poems to celebrate the coming of the season in the Northern Hemisphere!


































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Comments

  1. Tabatha21 March 2025 at 13:33

    Yay for sharing poetry in unexpected (and then relied upon) ways!

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    1. Alan j Wright22 March 2025 at 15:35

      Thank you, Tabatha. A pleasure to share these humble initiatives with my fellow poets.

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  2. Linda Mitchell21 March 2025 at 21:32

    Alan, your first and now project warm my heart. There are so many things that bring me down in the world...knowing there are poems "out there" to discover bring me smiles. What lucky discoverers who find your poems. What lovely gifts you give.

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    1. Alan j Wright22 March 2025 at 15:32

      Linda, you are most kind in your remarks. It does lift me when I am working to promote a broader awareness of poetry within my small sphere of influence. I once wrote- 'The needs its poets to each play a part.' I am trying to live by my words. Thank you again.

      Delete
  3. Sarah Grace Tuttle22 March 2025 at 06:31

    These are great ideas Alan, thank you for sharing your words! Your Christmas Angel poem made me smile.

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    1. Alan j Wright22 March 2025 at 15:34

      Thank you Sarah. Glad you enjoyed my Christmas Angel poem.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous22 March 2025 at 23:08

    Thank you for spreading the joy of poetry, Alan! I can see why your poems were missed when you discontinued the project for a time. They are hopeful, whimsical, and wise.

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    1. Alan j Wright23 March 2025 at 14:15

      Thank you for these kind and sustaining comments. They are much appreciated.

      Delete
  5. Mary Lee23 March 2025 at 23:21

    What a fun way to connect with, surprise, and delight your community!

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    1. Alan j Wright24 March 2025 at 12:48

      It has been fun to engage in this way, Mary Lee.

      Delete
  6. Marcie Flinchum Atkins24 March 2025 at 01:01

    Oh I love poetry projects. I'm excited to hear the stories that come out of your new project.

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    1. Alan j Wright24 March 2025 at 12:50

      Marcie, you are indeed a keen participant in such projects. Thank you for your keen response to my explorations.

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  7. Karen Edmisten 24 March 2025 at 04:48

    Both of these poetry projects are marvelous, Alan. I love these ideas and your dedication to planting poetry in the world.

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    1. Alan j Wright24 March 2025 at 12:52

      Thank you, Karen. Appreciate your kind remarks. I love the depiction of 'planting' poetry in the world. Now that is something worth doing.

      Delete
  8. laurasalas25 March 2025 at 03:48

    I love the variety of your Poet Tree poems--from light and funny to inspiring and thoughtful. I also admire your persistence in putting things out into the world on a personal level (I struggle with that), knowing when to end a project, and knowing when to revive it. Hooray! So...are you gifting these new envelope poems to specific people that you choose ahead of time? To strangers? Or to whomever finds them?

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    1. Alan j Wright25 March 2025 at 14:26

      Thank you, Laura. Your extensive comments are much appreciated. The gifting of poems project involves quite raandom selection. I leave the poems on chairs, tables and shelves in various locations and the rest is up to the universe. So, the poems go to whoever picks them up.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous25 March 2025 at 04:36

    Oh, I love this idea! My son found a painted rock someone had left in the forest near our house once, and it was such a wonderful experience, we actually wrote back to the person who'd left it (they'd included an email), and they were so pleased that a child had found it and loved it so much. :)

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    1. Alan j Wright25 March 2025 at 14:28

      Thanks for the positive response and the great story regarding your son's forest find. Such experiences are good for the spirits.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous25 March 2025 at 21:23

    I like your thinking, Al. And I love your Day By Day Day, Very clever!

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    1. Anonymous25 March 2025 at 21:24

      Says Kat.🙃

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    2. Alan j Wright28 March 2025 at 10:44

      Thank you Kat. The Day poem was fun in the making.

      Delete
  11. Carol Varsalona28 March 2025 at 06:57

    Alan, I am here late but I am glad that I learned about your Poetry Projects. Keep on sharing your poetic goodness and let us know where they land.

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  12. Alan j Wright28 March 2025 at 10:46

    Thank you for dropping in Carol. Much appreciated as always. I will endeavour to keep creating opportunties to expand poetry's footprint. It gives me much pleasure.

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