Poetry in Motion: 100 Poems from the Subways and Buses

by Elise Paschen (Editor), Molly Peacock (Editor), Neil Neches (Editor)

This rich gathering emanates from the immensely popular placards displayed in the subways and buses of New York City. Starting in October 1992, when Poetry in Motion first appeared, and continuing through August 1997, here are the first hundred poems of the program. The selections, ranging from Sappho to Sylvia Plath, from W. H. Auden to the ninth~-century Chinese poet Chu Chen Po, were carefully chosen, after hundreds of hours of reading by the three dedicated editors Molly Peacock, Elise Paschen, and Neil Neches.

Genres: Poetry

157 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Puja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to own - I've always thought poetry should be revisited often. Poetry in Motion is ideal for one's commute or carrying it just about anywhere - the size fits into most purses/bags. One can ofcourse read the 100 poems in one go at home. For people not comfortable or sure about poetry, this is a great book to get introduced to the poetry genre - the book has excerpts from classics, there are some short poems which are excellent and also a few samples from different cultures. I loved the Haiku pair in the end. Some poems are deep and meaningful, others silly and funny. My favorites include Emily Dickinson's 'Hope is the thing with feathers', Robert Frost's 'The Armful', Stephen Dunn's 'Happiness', Stanley Kunitz's 'The Round', C.P. Cavafy's 'As Much As You Can', Gabriela Mistral's 'Wall', Robert Hayden's 'Those Winter Sundays', Karla Kuskin's 'The Question', Shel Silverstein's 'Listen to the Mustn'ts', Sylvia Path's 'I am Vertical' and Pablo Neruda's 'Ode to the Cat'.

Here I share a delightful Chinese Poem from the Ninth Century by Chu Chen Po, translated in English:
Hedgehog
He ambles along like a walking pin cushion,
Stops and curls up like a chestnut burr.
He's not worried because he's so little,
Nobody is going to slap him around.

[Lili Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading "Poetry in Motion" on the subways!

Fave lines:

"Live not for battles won.
Live not for the-end-of-the-song.
Live in the along."

" . . . 'Why,
I think I'd like to be the sky
Or be a plane or train or mouse
Or maybe a haunted house
Or something furry, rough and wild...
Or maybe I will stay a child.'"

"Open your eyes,
Dream but don't guess.
Your biggest surprise
Comes after Yes."

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poems in this collection have there things in common: 1) They appeared on placards in subways and busses in New York City, 2) They are short enough to fit on those placards, and, 3) the poems are uniformly good. There is no real organizing principle, which would have been nice, but may have been impossible given the use to which these poems were put.

[Jeni Burckart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally charming book of poetry. So glad I read it. Now I have some more favorites stashed away to ponder over.

[Tyneil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes great excerpts from larger poems such as Wallace Steven's "13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and Eliot's "Love Song for J. Alfred Prufrock" among shorter memorable poems like "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden (I love this one). What's most thrilling about this collection is the concept behind it. Each having appeared in the subways and buses of New York City - what a great way to bring poetry to the people :)

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The editors gathered 100 poems that are part of a program to provide poetry within the public transit system of New York. The collection contains brief poems and represents historical poetry through contemporary poems while attempting to show cultural diversity.

[Natalie Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poetry in motion by Elise Paschen is 100 poems by different people all in one book. Most of the poems are calm and make a good point.
I thought the book was ok but you should read it if your a poem person.

[Marianna Monaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

great short poems
my favorite: Reflective by A. R. Ammons
I found a
weed
that had a

mirror in it
and that
mirror

looked in at
a mirror
in

me that
had a
weed in it

[Tom Romig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've often enjoyed reading the poems while riding the subway, so of course I found this collection quite delightful.

[Cait · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Read this while (or after? suddenly can't remember) visiting my brother* in New York! I love the like putting poetry on the subways, that's rad.

[Erin Epstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and quick sampler of poetry for people who aren't convinced they like poetry at all.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full with little gems of some must-read poets!