The Poetry
Fence Community
A tranquil corner of Del Ray, Alexandria, where poems, images, and thought-provoking news have gathered strangers and neighbors alike for more than seventeen years.
WHAT IS THE POETRY FENCE?
Usually a fence keeps things out. This one draws people in.
My one-of-a-kind poetry fence sits on a calm, side street of Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. It isn't a barrier — it's a place that reassures both strangers and friends that we aren't alone.
Through poetry, images, thought-provoking news stories, art, comics, whimsy, and yes, a dog water bowl, it spurs curiosity, brings a smile, and soothes hearts. It quietly fosters a sense of humanity and community that today's digital world removes us from all too often.
Curated by hand, since 2009
I HAVE DECORATED THIS FENCE WITH THOUGHTS I WANTED TO SHARE
Now retired from the U.S. Copyright Office of the Library of Congress after 35 years, I fill my days with poetry projects and community. Every April, National Poetry Month, I poem-bomb my neighborhood and share Gumball Poetry at a local café or bookstore.
Look around before you visit
Four ways to get to know the fence, its garden, and the neighbors and travelers who stop to read a poem.
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Project Gallery
The Little Free Library, fairy houses, Gumball Poetry, and every whimsical corner of the fence.
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Visitor Comments
Seventeen years of handwritten notes, left by neighbors and travelers from around the world.
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About Renée
A lifelong Alexandrian, retired from the Library of Congress, single mother, and self-taught poet.
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Reviews & News
The Washington Post, The Zebra, Patch, and more on the fence's 17+ years of community.
The Poetry Fence: A Catalyst for Community
Renée's forthcoming book gathers seventeen years of stories from visitors and neighbors who quietly stopped at the fence.
