I love commuting on the Tube. I didn’t really use the trains before going to university because everything was either within walking distance from my house or the bus was quicker. Getting on the train made me feel more adult, watching people in suits travel to work in big offices or people working on their laptops if they got a seat.
Poetry on the Underground is a charming public art project to introduce more poetry to the general public. I don’t read poetry very often, probably because the depth to which we studied a particular anthology for English GCSE was frankly traumatising. Before I had my will worn down enough to pay for Spotify premium, I would read poetry on my commute to uni. I started jotting down the titles and poets of the ones I really enjoyed.
I Am The Song – Charles Causley
Honesty – Kit Wright
Perseverance – Marin Sorescu
Everything Changes – Cicely Herbert
Cordon – Laura Chalar
Peepal Tree – Roger Robinson
Time To Be Slow – John Donohue
I Sing of Change – Niy Osundire
Adonais – Percy Bysshe Shelley
Rising – Jean Breeze
Wish You Were Here – Julia Fiedorczuk
When I have fears that I may cease to be – John Keats
Promise – Jackie kay
Leaf – Seán Hewitt
I love the imagery and being able to consume poetry a little at a time. Sometimes I find it difficult to start reading poetry all at once, compared to normal prose, it takes time to take in.
