Maris © 2004
Some reflections on letterboxing and Circle poems by Alec Finlay
a circle poem is not a flat line drawn into a loop; a circle poem
is an arc in time
in the finest circle poems there is no visible join
the classical subjects of circle poetry are time and tide
circle poems in letterboxes are the only true found poems
these poems, they have homes
some day every back garden will have its own letterbox
letterboxing, poésie en pleine aire
the poems are hidden so that they can be found
remember to bring ink to freshen a dry pad
rubber stamping, hobby printing
always report missing letterboxes, ink pads or rubber stamps
letterbox guides, rubber stamps, wooden handles, take away poems
‘you send me your poems / I’ll send you mine’ (Robert Creeley)
more and more contemporary poetry requires planning permission
some poems will sink, others will be stolen – such is the fate of all poetry
Kinloch-Rannoch, Punto Del Este, Missoula: the names are themselves
poems
some day the collected guides will be a world book