An Ilya Kaminsky Poem Rides the Subway

Last week I shared a subway ride with this poster from the NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority's long-running "Poetry in Motion" series. It cheered up my travels, and so I am posting its Instagram link. Readers might remember the poem from Kaminsky's collection Deaf Republic (Graywolf, 2019). The art is by Elisabeth Condon.

The Poetry Friday roundup for July 26th takes place at Marcie Flinchum Atkins' blog.

Comments

[tanita]

Oh! I LOVE things like this. Our very boring Rapid Transit service needs to get onboard with cool arts ideas like this!

[Susan T.]

Finding poetry in the wild is so much fun. For one thing, it makes you start seeing everything around you as part of a poem. I like this NYC series and the gorgeous public art in the subway stations. Thanks for stopping by, Tanita!

[Laura Purdie Salas]

Oh, this is lovely. Nothing better than finding art and poetry in a public space, especially an unexpected one!

[Susan]

Right, Laura? That "little earth of/six pounds" just slays me. Our own six-pound little earth is a grown man!

[Denise Krebs]

Susan, I'm soon on my way to Seattle to be with my daughter who will have her own daughter, so I loved reading this sweet lullaby poem about this precious little daughter. And how delightful to find this on a subway ride.

[Rose Cappelli]

What a lovely idea! Thanks for sharing the experience and the poem. I love the way "little daughter rainwater" sound together.

[Marcie Flinchum Atkins]

When I was in NYC in June I saw poetry on the subway too. And I just love it.

[Mary Lee]

I read that poem multiple times on the subway in June!!

[Susan]

Aw, Denise, so sweet! Safe travels and all best wishes for the new baby.

Rose, you're welcome. Those words do sound good together. The poem says a lot in not very many words.

Marcie and Mary Lee, the poetry really can perk up a subway ride!