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Put your poetry on Albuquerque buses (and win a laptop while you're at it)

I love poetry. And I love public transportation.

The two are forming a happy union this summer as part of ABQ RIDE's "Poetry on the Bus" program, so the long-time local poet Mikaela Renz-Whitmore and I have decided to support the cause on Duke City Fix.

Are you a poet?

Whether you're published or still budding, Poetry on the Bus is a way of getting your words out there. Fill out an application and submit your poems (up to 2, each containing 50 words or less) to a panel of local judges now through the end of June.

1) Fill out the official application (PDF)

2) Send it snail mail to:

City of Albuquerque ABQ Ride, Marketing Division Attn: Del Chavez
100 First St. SW,
Albuquerque, NM 87102

Please attach four copies of each poem (limit 2 poems per poet). Do NOT include your name on your poem page itself (they will be judged by blind jury).

3) Deadline is ~~June 30~~ extended to July 7.

Prizes

If fame alone does not move you, maybe a laptop or iPod will? Consider the following prizes for top poems submitted:

1st Place - Acer Laptop Computer
2nd Place - iPod Nano
3rd Place - $50 Gift Card
4th Place - $20 Gift Card

Official Details

You can find official details on the ABQRIDE website. Mikaela is also hosting an online poetry slam for the cause.

Tags: abqride, albuquerque, bus, poetry

0 members like this

Comment by SoyJames on June 16, 2008 at 1:53pm: Rudolpho should submit a bit the random DCF poem. Do it!

Comment by Edith Grove on June 16, 2008 at 4:07pm: I'm glad they're doing this! We have some fantastic poets in ABQ. Though it looks like the official site says to submit a max of 2 poems.

Comment by chantal on June 16, 2008 at 4:11pm: Thanks for the alert, E.G. I've changed the details above.

It's also worth noting that even though the PDFs on the City website still list the deadline as June 30th, they've officially extended it to July 7.

Comment by Michael P. "Martini Mike" D'Arco on June 16, 2008 at 4:25pm: I am so all over this (for once)! Thanks for the heads up.

Comment by Izquierdo on June 16, 2008 at 6:11pm: No word here about whether a bus related theme to a poem is required, or even helpful.

Comment by Benny the Icepick on June 17, 2008 at 7:18am: //I just wonder how many people who love public transportation actually utilize public transportation in Albuquerque....//
More than you'd think, Al. And it seems to be the recent converts who love it, rather than the people who take the bus out of necessity.

The other day I was on the commuter route back home, and these two guys in ties were exchanging all the reasons they enjoy commuting.

One of my clients used to drive his gigantic truck all the way from Academy downtown, and now he shows off his bus pass proudly. His pass pays for itself in not-gas-money every week or so, and he's visibly less stressed from not having to deal with Albuquerque drivers.

Maybe I'll put together a poem about bus n00bs...