The 2025 edition of Bus Poems saw 80+ submissions of 25-syllable poems from 20+ authors. This anthology includes every submission received. When you click "Access the PDF," please select 1 ticket. After clicking "continue," you'll have the option to donate. No donation is required to access the PDF, but our supporters' generosity helps The Poetry Movement and its Paper Knives publishing imprint promote poets and poetry in the greater Chicago-Milwaukee region.

If you do decide to donate, please note: Givebutter charges us no platform fees or processing charges when we have optional tipping enabled. After you click “Donate,” you can opt to have Givebutter cover processing fees by clicking “Change” next to the processing fee, then unchecking the box. You can choose not to donate to GiveButter by lowering the tip to $0.

Our impact

The Poetry Movement has installed 51 poems on public transit and published 100+ poets since 2025 through our Transit Poems contest and regional poetry anthology, available to read free at thepoetrymovement.org. In addition to keeping our submissions no-fee and allowing us to pay featured poets, your contribution will:

Expand Transit Poems coverage area and weave poetry into daily life for the community at large
Build a database of regional poetry opportunities, publishers, and events
Publish a regular email/video magazine featuring one poem, one video interview & 5-7 links to upcoming events
Sustain a self-publishing co-op to that makes chapbook printing affordable at lower-than-commercial rates and provides book launch support
Launch the mid(we)st lit fest on December 5, featuring workshops with poet laureate Brenda Cárdenas; writing exercises in response to a tour of visual artists’ work; a vendor expo for participating artists, poets, publishers & orgs; and a catered reception showcase & open mic.

Help support a thriving, connected poetry ecosystem for all established and emerging poets in the greater Chiwaukee region from the hub of Racine, WI, by promoting public poetry, building a regional poetry database, and creating pipelines to publication.

Your donation to the Poetry Movement will be processed through our fiscal sponsor, the Racine Arts Council, a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, who receives 5% of Poetry Movement funds to cover administrative expenses for financial management of our accounts. Your emailed receipt for this tax-deductibles donation will include the Racine Arts Council’s federal Employee Identification Number, which you will need to deduct tax donations over $250. Please note that your donation and any processing fees you choose to cover will be tax deductible, but tips given to GiveButter during the check-out process will not be tax deductible. You can opt out of tips by lowering the amount to $0 and you can choose not to cover processing fees by clicking “Change” beside the processing fee amount and then unchecking the box. GiveButter pledges to cover those processing fees for organizations that choose to allow voluntary tipping.

Free Download: Bus Poems 2025 Anthology

Read the first year of submissions!