Music and Cats

“There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” –Albert Schweitzer

Music and Cats header image 2

Reasons to ride the bus to work #27

April 27th, 2006 by Kimberly

This morning, I walked almost all the way to the back of the bus to find an empty seat. Settling into a spot on a bench seat running parallel to the length of the bus, I glanced up at the placards on the far wall, and read this:

Four Secrets

I was born with a tiny extra bone
camping quietly close to my clavicle.
The taste of envelopes reminds me
of communion. I carry my gandmother’s name,
Jane, tucked safely between my first and last.
I have no tattoos; thus far,
I have nothing permanent to say.

- Erin Jane Miller

Poetry on Buses; what a wonderful idea! This is what can happen when a community makes a commitment to public art, as King County has with the Percent for Art Fund, which funds this and other local public art programs.

I imagine that some of my glum-faced fellow commuters may have wondered - if they even noticed - why a smile crossed my face, and lingered as I reached into my purse for my book.

Tags: 6 Comments

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 srp Apr 27, 2006 at 1:53 pm

    Did you reach in for your book to make a note of the poetry, or to compose some of your own? That is great.

  • 2 terrilynn Apr 28, 2006 at 4:51 am

    Oh, I love that. What an unexpected treat.

  • 3 Janeen Apr 28, 2006 at 6:46 pm

    I love poetry on the buses, too. That is an especially fine one.

  • 4 Tania Apr 28, 2006 at 7:51 pm

    How wonderful! I happy to say that public transit here in Toronto is taking the same initiative. Just today I read one written in the 1st century B.C. by Catullus. A poem by an ancient Roman poet on a streetcar in Toronto in the 21st century?! Oh, if only he knew!

  • 5 Anne Apr 29, 2006 at 1:33 pm

    What a delight!

  • 6 michelle Apr 29, 2006 at 10:40 pm

    I tried to submit some but I was told they are not doing it this year.

    It would be so cool to look up and see my words. :)