New poems will appear on City of Racine buses and paratransit vehicles at the end of this month. To celebrate the second year of the Bus Poems contest, a free showcase and open mic will occur from 5:30-8pm on May 29 at the city’s transit depot.
Light refreshments will be provided at the event, which is open to the public.
The contest, operated by a nonprofit called The Poetry Movement, sought poems of 26 words in length to commemorate 2026. Seventy-seven poets from Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Chicago — as well as others from around the world — submitted a total of 177 poems.
Other community organizations will have a presence at the event, too.
The Friends of the Library will have a small book boutique with gently used books for sale at low prices, proceeds from which benefit Racine Public Library and its community programming.
A newer mutual aid organization Racine Swap and Share is also set to offer various new and lightly used items free of charge to members of the community.
This year’s contest brought in more than three times as many poets as last year’s. A free anthology of all the submissions will be available at www.thepoetrymovement.org beginning May 29, and in addition to the selected Bus Poems signs being on display at the event and contributors performing their works.
Other community organizations interested in participating are also welcome to attend to promote their programs and services, said Bus Poems coordinator Nicholas Ravnikar.
“Poetry fundamentally fosters connection,” Ravnikar said. “Just like each poem on every bus is one person reaching out with their voice to a reader the author has never met, this program and the showcase event aim to bring together all the people who help sustain and develop our community.”
To participate in the event as an organization or open mic performer, those interested can RSVP and send direct messages via the Facebook event. Questions by email are welcome at
Last year’s winners, a free ebook anthology and a separate collection of poetry by Chicago and Milwaukee area writers are also available free on the organization’s website.
The Bus Poems contest was funded by the Osborne-Scekic Family Fund, the Racine Arts Council’s 2024 ArtSeed grant and Wisconsin Arts Board, along with support from the ArtRoot, a Racine organization that promotes the vibrant arts and creative culture of Racine as a strength and attraction of the broader region. The city expended no funds directly for the project.Facebook event:
