Seven published poets are currently showcasing their works on the Tyne and Wear Metro as part of a new project to bring poetry to a wider audience. The verses are being displayed on large posters on the platforms at Longbenton with this new scheme forming part of the Art on Transport programme.
Huw Lewis, Nexus Customer Services Director, said: “We’re thrilled to be displaying works from seven published poets on Metro this summer for our customers to enjoy. I’m always really impressed with the standard of poetry we receive for these displays, there’s always something which makes you stop and think, and these short poems are ideal for those travelling through the station. Metro has a long history of displaying art on the network. Placing art and poetry in public places like train stations, where people don’t expect to see it, is a great way of introducing it to the public.”
Longbenton Metro station has become a hub for poetry in recent years and has displayed poetry from competition winners since early 2023. Newcastle based award winning poet Anna Woodford invited poets working with the Royal Literary Fund to share their poems.
Anna said: “These poems don’t have any particular theme, but I asked the poets for short poems, or extracts from longer ones, with the idea being that they are easy for people to digest while they are passing through the station. We love the displays at Longbenton and have seen some fantastic poetry displayed there in the past. It’s a wonderful way to get poetry out to new audiences and hopefully enrich Metro customers’ journeys.”