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HAPPY BIRTHDAY POEMS ON THE UNDERGROUND!

To celebrate 30 years of Poems on the Underground, customers can once again enjoy the original five verses originally published in 1986

Throughout February the Tube's four million passengers can read the works by celebrated writers Seamus Heaney (later to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature), Gyanese-British poet Grace Nichols, populist American poet William Carlos Williams, Robert Burns and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

Poems on the Underground has become a celebrated public arts programme and has shared more than 500 works with the travelling public since it was established. From classical verse to contemporary and international pieces, some of the poets have been famous, others relatively unknown.

As part of the celebrations, Underground staff will be highlighting some of their favourite poetry on whiteboards in stations across the network. Customers will also be able to pick up a free leaflet featuring a collection of 30 poems from the 30 years, from central London Tube stations.

Poems on the Underground was inspired by the American writer Judith Chernaik, who, along with poets Gerard Benson and Cicely Herbert, thought that a few lines of verse would be a welcome addition among the advertising on the Tube.

The idea has since been copied by public transport authorities on networks in Dublin, New York, Paris,
Barcelona, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg and Shanghai. Judith said: 'It's hard to believe that an idea which started as a pleasant way of providing reading matter on Tube journeys has reached its 30th year. The programme continues to thrive because of London Underground's support and an amazing public response - and above all because of the poets past and present who have enriched our lives in so many ways.'

For more information, visit the Poems on the Underground webpage.

 

Channel website: https://tfl.gov.uk/

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