Poesy – the art of poetic composition – is a well-chosen for the name of the Full region of Poesy Wildes on two counts: it both reflects the core theme of the region, which is a celebration of poems (and literature) and because it is a accurate reflection of the compositional skill of region holder Raven Fairelander (RavenStarr Fairelander). To call this region “enchanting” is really an understatement; it is a marvellous journey through the worlds through both its subject matter and Raven’s creativity.
Poesy Wildes is an enchanting retreat which offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of literature, prose, and poetry. The air is filled with the whispers of verses, and every corner invites contemplation and inspiration.
From the region’s About Land description
Watched over by Edgar Allan Poe – who requests visitors forgive him his silence as he is deeply engrossed in writing Lenore (originally A Pæan), so I’ll leave you to discover him – the region is wreathed in twilight, the Sun apparently just having set. However, such is the beauty of Poesy Wildes that it naturally lends itself to a range of EEP settings.
The landing point sits to the north-east of the setting, within an orangery. It’s worth spending a little time here, as there is an Experience to accept and HUD to collect. Obtaining the latter both triggers a request to join the former and provides ready access to the 20 poems any literary excerpts that have been the August focus of the region. Also available at the landing point is a Love Project Teleport HUD, providing access to locations such as The Magic Hour and Ai-Mura, both of which I visited in July 2024 (see Wandering in The Magic Hour in Second Life and Ai-Mura – a Love Project in Second Life), as well as other locations linked to the project – again, acceptance of an Experience will be required for this HUD as well.
Just outside of the landing point is a further teleporter to key points within Poesy Wildes and – until the end of August, at least, details on the location’s photo contest. Finally, the ground just outside the landing point carries the first of several quotations awaiting discovery within the region.
The easiest way to explore the region is to simply follow the path – and your nose, should the path peter out – and see where it leads. Poems and excepts are clearly mounted on boards throughout the landscape, and the HUD allows you to access them on-screen for easier reading. In addition, selecting a piece on the HUD allows you to both use the Visit button to hop to it directly, and / or listen to an audio recital of the poem or text. I admit that some of the prose is a little difficult to read on the HUD (and understandably so, given its length), but to be able to hear the stories and poems whilst wandering their locations is additionally immersive.
At the time of my visit, the setting featured the following writers and their works: Emily Dickenson: Because I could not stop for Death (1890), This is my letter to the World (1890), “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers (1891) and I stepped from Plank to Plank (1896); Edgar Allan Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart (1843) and The Raven (1845); Lewis Carroll: an expert from Chapter 7 of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and Jabberwocky from Through the Looking Glass (1871) and Rudyard Kipling: The Way Through the Woods; and If- (c. 1895).
Then there are individual poems and excerpts from T.S. Eliot – The Naming of Cats from Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (1939); William Wordsworth: I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (1804/1806); Alfred, Lord Tennyson: The Eagle (1851); W.B. Yeats Aedh Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven (1899); Oscar Wilde: In The Forest from Uncollected Poems (1876-1893); Amy Lowell: The Garden by Moonlight from Pictures of the Floating World (1919); Judith Wright: Egrets from Birds: Poems (1949/1962); Christina Rossetti; except from The Goblin Market (1859/1862) and Virginia Woolf, taken from a 1937 BBC Radio broadcast in the series words Fail Me.
Each of the poems is set in an environment well suited to it. for example: In the Forest can be found along the woodland path leading away from the landing point (and where the goblins have set-up there market stall) whilst Jabberwocky will bring you face-to-face with said beast, and Poe’s stories are to be found residing with him up on the hill and indoors. Of them all, however, I think my favourite in terms of setting is Egrets, although admittedly, I did use a daytime EEP with which to try to capture it, as the setting is so picturesque.
Also to be found within the region is the Moonlight Garden, one of two main areas offering the opportunity for romantic dancing, whilst the Poesy stage offers periodic readings and recitals together with Sunday writing workshops (07:00 SLT every…Sunday). There are also multiple places to sit and relax and simply enjoy the setting whilst the sheer beauty of the setting makes it a joy to walk through. And do keep an eye out for the eagle – not only can you read the poem, you can make like a hobbit (or dwarf or wizard) and take to the air on it!
One thing that I strongly recommend when visiting is to have local sounds enabled; not only does the soundscape add to the general ambience of the region, in places it also includes elements that match the nature of the poems. The local audio stream also offers music well in keeping with the theme and look of the setting, and so is also worth considering whilst exploring the region or resting within it.
From landing point to shingle beach through to the hilltop Poe residence, Poesy Wildes is a genuine place of beauty. The poems are particularly well-matched to the landscape whilst the short stories from Poe are ideal for the coming season. I’ve not attended any of the recitals or the writing classes, but I would imagine that the schedule – which are currently scheduled until the end of August – will be updated for September in due course. It is is, I’ll certainly endeavour to hop along to and event. If you fancy joining in with events as a writer, poet or musician – or because you’ll like to help out with tours of the region, please contact Raven.
And all that said, I’ll leave you to drop in to Poesy Wildes and appreciate it for yourselves. Enjoy!
SLurl Details
- Poesy Wildes (Last Island, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 