Poet Roger McGough pens verses to mark Tube strike
- Published
Poet Roger McGough has written two poems in response to Sunday and Monday's London Tube strike to mark National Poetry Day.
Millions face disruption during the 24-hour strike, which is in protest at plans to cut ticket office staffing.
The theme for Thursday's poetry day is home, and McGough suggests his lines may help commuters see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The Liverpudlian poet presents the BBC Radio 4 programme Poetry Please.
He was also a member of The Scaffold, which topped the charts in 1968 with Lily the Pink, and was an uncredited writer of some of the humorous dialogue on the Beatles' Yellow Submarine film.
Along with Adrian Henri and Brian Patten, McGough was one of the Mersey Poets and they published two best-selling volumes of verse during the 60s and 70s, having started out giving readings in Liverpool's clubs and cafes.
Here are his two poems:
A Striking Soliloquy
tu be
or not
tu be
Tube strike Haiku
trains that are side-lined
idling in rusty sidings
fear the knacker's yard
* * *
tunnels empty now
can see the light at both ends
birds risk a short cut
* * *
rails sleeping, dream of
a parallel universe
a new perspective
* * *
platforms yawn and stretch
enjoying the holiday
mice minding the gap
- Published4 October 2010
- Published30 June 2010