Pocket Letter Swaps: Poetry

The good folks at Poets.org remind us to "Keep poetry alive, this month and every month. Remember old favorites, discover new ones." So, let's celebrate National Poetry Month with a pocket letter!

The concept is simple: take a 9-pocket ATC collector page and fill the pockets with poetry, poetry-related things. The photo is a pocket letter I created for another swap.

Required items:

• A letter -- this is a writer pen pal swap. It can be typed or written longhand, then folded to fit in the 2.5x3.5 slot.

• A copy of one of your favorite poems.

You'll have 7 more pockets to fill with ANYTHING that is poetry related.

Be sure your contact information is included so your partner can potentially write back with a pocket letter.

Ideas of what can go in the remaining pockets:

• more poems!

• an ATC

• A mini zine

• A card with questions for your pen pal to answer back when they reply to your letter.

• Quotes

• Tea

• Small, flat profile surprises

• Articles

• Jokes

• Recipes

• Whatever else you can think of that has a poetry theme and will fit in a 2.5x3.5 slot.

Here are a couple of crafty websites that illustrate how to make one:

Pocket Letter Love

Pocket Letter Pals

The plastic sheet can be folded to fit into a business size envelope, BUT, if you use one of those, be sure to tape up all of the edges to withstand postal service handling. It'll be a better idea to use a manila or sturdy-type envelope for mailing.

This should be a lot of fun. I hope we get a lot of participation. There are several public swaps for this type of pen pal letter. If you're looking for more, search for key words like "window pane" or "pocket" letter.

International. Snail mail. Group membership.