Saturday 5 February 2011

Poems on the Subway.... well, not anymore

Whilst it's freezing and snow is everywhere in NY, I have to say that in days like this in London, getting on the tube and going underground in the warm toasty tunnels was a welcome retreat. Most of the subway in New York is fairly close to street level, so whilst it is a bit warmer it's still wise to wear your thermals! :)
But imagine my surprise and delight when I saw this summer there were 'Poems on the Subway' and as in London poets that time forgot as well as well known poets were there to be read on your daily commute, to brighten your day.
I might be mistaken as a bit of a boffin, which of course I'm not.. well not entirely! But it certainly beats looking at a barrage of advertisment's trying to sell you slimming drinks or plastic surgery!
Despite this, Manhattan Transport the MTA have decided to discontinue the poetry much to the dissapointment of Native New Yorkers. The article here in the Huffington post makes the point quite clear Poems on the subway and underground and says in stark contrast the London Underground has just celebrated 25years of poetry in the Underground.
Whilst NY subway commuters will be subject to more ad's. Some people's comments are in favour, thinking this is good revenue to cut down fares. Which may be a point, as on a recent trip to London I was devastated to learn £10/$16 last me only 1 and a half days on the tube!!
But I have to say, I do love the poetry, sadly now though it'll be more of those adverts of Dr Zizzman offering me the nose job my brother teasingly said I should always have had...