And the words they go down. Down where travelers wait on platforms with steely-eyed stares, gazing across tracks. And the words they go across too. On the white walls of the subway tiles, placed by hand, they add stark contrast to a bleak underground world. New Yorkers on their way, weary, waiting to step off a platform onto a hurrying train, stand still or stand restless. It’s a sea of humanness in the Brooklyn Subway on a June day. Unseasonably cold weather has blown into New York and it mirrors the mood of its people.
We tape a temporary grid on the walls, counting out the spaces—horizontal, vertical clues for this wordplay and intriguing distraction. It’s healing. It’s unexpected. They ask who we are and why we are there. And we simply say we are there to bring some joy to the subway.
We Were Part of The Art Bus Project
We brought words, letters, southern accents, nuance and novelty to routine and sameness. We brought uncertainty and little or no expectations. There was no template for this taping of a puzzle on the subway walls in the middle of New York.
There was only unexpected delight and fascination. A break from the brittle routine of waiting for the metal tube on the tracks.
Words as comfort, words as pace-changers have their necessary place. And poetry in the subways would be a dream for poetry lovers. Written, all graffiti-like, on the walls of the white subway tiles.
An offering of poetry for the masses in the public square? A place for poetry in the middle of mass transit? Why not? But for now, on this day, we taped a crossword puzzle up and down the walls of a Brooklyn station. We supplied clues and letters and tape.
We invited. People responded. It was a playful change of pace for the commuter waiting near the track. The responses were varied—the shy one, the skeptic, the eager one, the tired grump, and more. Representing everyman. Representing everywoman.
The verdict was in. You could read it in the facial expressions of the subway-riders that day. Words heal, words connect, words bridge gaps of space and time and emotion between souls.
Pick a clue, solve a puzzle, and watch as smiles appear and laugh lines light the faces of commuters.
A word, or two, for the souls of the travelers. The day the words went up and down.
Photos by Nathan Lee, used with permission. Post by Elizabeth Marshall.
For more on the Art Bus Project, watch this documentary video by Nathan Lee.
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Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99 — Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In January we’re exploring the theme Coffee and Tea.
- Literary Tour: Blue Bicycle Books (Charleston, SC) - August 7, 2013
- Brooklyn Subway: The Poetry of Crossword Puzzles - January 11, 2013
Monica Sharman says
Healing and unexpected. Yes!
Now this is the kind of thing that would make me look forward to the subway. Joy indeed.
Elizabeth Wynne Marshall says
Yes, joy in the dark and dirty places. Bringing light to the dark with words and our presence and the investment of ourselves.
I can imagine an “army” of folks, musicians do this now, bringing art and joy to people’s lives as they travel to and from. This was from and they were tired and weary. There are lots more stories. I am humbled by your interest in this project. I was a member of a team, NOT the brainchild. But I was changed.
Poetry is a vehicle for healing. sigh, poetry.
L. L. Barkat says
Elizabeth, this is so, so cool.
Who thinks of making commuters happy?
But why do we not think of it? This is how people are *starting their day,* you know? This making-one’s-way to the places where things will happen, good or bad, where people will make decisions and influence co-workers and the world.
Love this vision come to life in the subway!
Elizabeth Wynne Marshall says
I long to write more of this time, it was such a rich experience.
I lived in New York for almost five and a half years, Manhattan, and taking the subway was so often difficult and depressing. It was the ’80s, New York has changed somewhat since then. But my experiences were largely draining and lacking in any interaction between people.
This experience last June was beautiful, so beautiful. It was the five o’clock rush hour and truly I get weepy when I think of the responses to our presence, our invitation to play, and the fun we had. There is so much more to say but for now I am humbled, and honored and privileged that you see the healing aspects of this time.
We truly need to touch one another in the coming and goings of this life with tenderness and gentleness and just a quiet presence.
Grateful for your comments. They light me up and I love that you get this so deeply. This bus went from New York to Charleston, over a thousand miles and is now a mobile art studio in Charleston. This was ONE stop along the way.
Maureen Doallas says
Great project, Elizabeth! I especially like that it was so interactive, and not a passive pushing of words. Definitely an idea that deserves to be spread. It must have been so much fun to participate.
Elizabeth Wynne Marshall says
Maureen, the interaction between strangers was quite remarkable. To see small amounts of trust built, to see conversations sparked ( I sat with one woman on the bench who didn’t want to “play” and we just chatted about her long day. She was too tired to interact, work taking its toil on her spirit). Yes this break from eyes locked on a newspaper and the shift to eyes lifted up and even sparkling at the challenge. Some of the clues were very challenging. We had a guy leave the subway and come back down when he thought he had the right answer. Thanks for your enthusiasm for this. Hope it has legs of some sort.
Elizabeth Wynne Marshall says
Thanks guys for adding the documentary by Nathan Lee. It brings back wonderful memories.( Brooklyn Day 1 and all the days of the journey). Hope others will be inspired to take poetry down to new heights, or depths as it were.
kelliwoodford says
I loved the “everyman, everywoman” part, especially. Because what you did brought light to humanity.
Holy work, here, Elizabeth. This is holy work.
Elizabeth Wynne Marshall says
Kelly, what wonders small touches and words and pieces of time invested can mean to another….continues to amaze. I walked away with much more than I gave. Words are vehicles of healing between humans. And poetry the tenderest means by which to travel.