Underground Poems
Poetry is rarely visible in public. By poetry, in this instance, we
understand a text/verbal exercise that has been written with the intention
of opening a reader to the possibilities within language, and opening the
space in which that language is presented. Advertising is very common in
public. The purpose of advertising is to minimise the possibilities
available to the reader and to direct YOUR attention to the object of the
advertisement. It is for this reason that poetry is rarely visible in
public. Public space is too valuable a commodity.
Poetry is not entirely absent from public space however. You may have
noticed that London Transport has a “Poetry on the Underground” series.
This poetry is arguably very pleasant and perhaps even plays an important
cultural role. We at LUC find it a little dull though and would like to see
poetry that elicits excitement, agitation, and confusion in the reader and
the space of the underground, and encourages an active exploration of the
role of public language and its presentation in shared civic space. Poetry
that seems aware of its context and knows that it is accessible to many
readers, if only for a while. It is for this reason that LUC are
undertaking their own series of poems on the underground: Underground Poems.
We welcome participation in this series from any who have used or intend
to use London public transport.
Over a period of 24 months a minimum of 500 copies of 96 poems will be
distributed across the London transport network. All poems in the series
will be presented in A5 sticker format, complete with a LUC logo, so that
they are recognisably part of this series. The permission of Transport For
London will not be sought. This would give the work a permanence and
significance that is not our aim.
LUC are currently asking for submissions for inclusion in this project.
There is no remit other than the confines of an A5 format and a request to
the author to consider the temporal and spatial dynamics of the underground
as a venue, and the readers who use London transport. All work submitted at
the author’s risk! It is our intention to conclude the series with a
reading on London transport and to produce a booklet documenting the
project.
Please contact LUC at [log in to unmask] with queries or submissions.
The series will commence in April 2004 although there is a rolling deadline
for submissions. Wherever possible poets will be contacted prior to
publication.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Love from London Under Construction [Piers Hugill, Doug Jones, Aodhan
McCardle, Stephen Mooney, Chris Paul, Stephen Pochin]
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