twenty-sixth, A Poetry Contest Chapbook by the Yakima Coffeehouse Poets, April 2021

 Nonfiction / Poetry

54 pages

5 Stars

 

This is a handmade chapbook, one of the means for raising money for the Yakima Coffeehouse Poets of Yakima, Washington. Every year, YCP holds a contest and publishes the best poems of the entrants. They had over 54 entrants this year, and the best made it into the book.

 

There is no ISBN for this little book, and the only way to get your own copy is through Inklings Bookshop in Yakima, or by ordering directly from YCP at PO Box 2874, Yakima, WA 98907, or by emailing ycpoetrycontest@gmail.com. Either way, the cost is a $10.00 donation to YCP. If ordering by snail mail, please include enough to cover postage. (I suggest at least $4.00 to cover the price of envelope and postage. $5.00 would for sure work and be appreciated.)

 

The book begins with nine Honorable Mention poets, and topics range from cutting each other’s hair during the pandemic to first love. Each is different, and each is well done.

 

There is a series of poems about saying goodbye that won the Tom Pier Prize. Some of them made me cry. Then there are the Third, Second, and First place poems, with each section having multiple poems by the prize-winning poet.

 

This is a delightful anthology of local poets (most are from Central Washington, with one as far away as Walla Walla and one as far north as Twisp). To get a copy, contact Inklings Bookshop (www.Inklingsbookshop.com) or YCP (see above). Also check out the YCP website (yakimacoffeehousepoets.com). You’ll be glad you did. Best $10.00 you’ll spend in a long time.