W. E. Butts
Encyclopedia
Walter E. Butts is an American
poet and the Poet Laureate
of New Hampshire
. His most recent book is Sunday Evening at the Stardust Cafe (1st World Library), which was a finalist for the 2005 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry from the California State University, Fresno
and won the Iowa Source Poetry Book Prize. He has also received a Pushcart Prize
nomination.
His work has been published in such literary journals as The Atlanta Review, Poetry East, Cimarron Review, Mid-American Review, Slant, PoetryMotel, Poet Lore and Spillway and anthologized in Emerson of Harvard (2003), Tokens: Contemporary Poetry of the Subway (P&Q Press, New York), and The Anthology of Magazine Verse & Yearbook of American Poetry (1997). He has also written reviews of other poets' works, including Tell Them We Were Here by David Kelly, a Rochester, New York
-area poet.
Until the late 1970s, Butts lived in Rochester, New York
, where he was one of several poets who organized featured readings and open mics in the area, most notably at The Cobbs Hill Grille, a popular local bar and restaurant. Over the next few years he lived in Albany, New York
, New York City
, Boston
, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
, and currently lives in Manchester, New Hampshire
. In April 2003, he was among the participants in the first gathering of state poets laureate organized by New Hampshire’s poet laureate, Marie Harris. That same year, he also toured northern New Hampshire with South Dakota poet David Allan Evans
, giving readings and discussions at community centers and bookstores. Some of these were broadcast on regional National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting
stations.
Butts received his M.F.A. from the Vermont College of Fine Arts
in 1995, and he taught creative writing workshops at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester
. Currently, he is an associate professor of English at the Hesser College
campus in Manchester and at the low residency Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Goddard College
. He was cited in the 2002 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
In addition to teaching, Butts also co-edited Walking to Windward: Poets of New England, Volume 3 (Oyster River Press
, 2001) and is the co-editor and publisher (with his wife S. Stephanie) of the literary magazine Crying Sky: Poetry & Conversation.
Chapbooks
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet and the Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
. His most recent book is Sunday Evening at the Stardust Cafe (1st World Library), which was a finalist for the 2005 Philip Levine Prize in Poetry from the California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
and won the Iowa Source Poetry Book Prize. He has also received a Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
nomination.
His work has been published in such literary journals as The Atlanta Review, Poetry East, Cimarron Review, Mid-American Review, Slant, PoetryMotel, Poet Lore and Spillway and anthologized in Emerson of Harvard (2003), Tokens: Contemporary Poetry of the Subway (P&Q Press, New York), and The Anthology of Magazine Verse & Yearbook of American Poetry (1997). He has also written reviews of other poets' works, including Tell Them We Were Here by David Kelly, a Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
-area poet.
Until the late 1970s, Butts lived in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, where he was one of several poets who organized featured readings and open mics in the area, most notably at The Cobbs Hill Grille, a popular local bar and restaurant. Over the next few years he lived in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
, and currently lives in Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. In April 2003, he was among the participants in the first gathering of state poets laureate organized by New Hampshire’s poet laureate, Marie Harris. That same year, he also toured northern New Hampshire with South Dakota poet David Allan Evans
David Allan Evans
David Allan Evans USA is an American poet. Since 2002, he is the poet laureate of the U.S. state of South Dakota.-Life:...
, giving readings and discussions at community centers and bookstores. Some of these were broadcast on regional National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
stations.
Butts received his M.F.A. from the Vermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts
Vermont College of Fine Arts offers four distinct graduate programs, awarding Master of Fine Arts degrees in Visual Art, Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults and Graphic Design. The student to faculty ratio at VCFA is 4-to-1.. The faculty and alumni of VCFA have won many literary awards,...
in 1995, and he taught creative writing workshops at the University of New Hampshire at Manchester
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
The University of New Hampshire at Manchester was established in 1985 as the sixth college of the University of New Hampshire. Located in Manchester, UNH Manchester provides associate's, bachelor's, and master's, with special emphasis on programs that address urban issues...
. Currently, he is an associate professor of English at the Hesser College
Hesser College
Hesser College is a for-profit college with several campuses in New Hampshire. It is owned by Kaplan, Inc. The college offers associate and bachelor degrees in the fields of early childhood education, criminal justice, general studies, business and various art programs. The college claims a...
campus in Manchester and at the low residency Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Goddard College
Goddard College
Goddard College is a private, liberal arts college located in Plainfield, Vermont, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Goddard College currently operates on an intensive low-residency model...
. He was cited in the 2002 edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
In addition to teaching, Butts also co-edited Walking to Windward: Poets of New England, Volume 3 (Oyster River Press
Oyster River Press
Oyster River Press is a small press based in Durham, New Hampshire. The press specializes in new and international poetry, as well as books on Chinese myths, the environment, and the art of living. Bilingual editions of translations are also a focus...
, 2001) and is the co-editor and publisher (with his wife S. Stephanie) of the literary magazine Crying Sky: Poetry & Conversation.
Published works
Full-length poetry collections- Sunday Evening at the Stardust Café (1st World Library, 2006)
- Movies in a Small Town (Mellen Poetry Press, 1997)
Chapbooks
- What to Say if the Birds Ask (Pudding House Publications, 2007)
- Sunday Factory (Finishing Line Press, 2006)
- White Bees (Oyster River Press, 2001)
- A Season of Crows (Igneus Press, 2000)
- The Required Dance (Igneus Press, 1990)
- The Inheritance (Four Zoas Press, 1983)