Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Local Poetry, Part 1

This was in Saturday’s Washington Post, but I can’t find a link. I’m usually suspicious of “found poetry,” but this example amused me…maybe because I’ve had my share of Metro problems. I’m sure all of this will be familiar to anyone in the DC area who rides Metro on a semi-regular basis. Here are some excerpts:

Rhymes With Orange Line
By Monica Hesse

In the esteemed tradition of found art, we arranged these recent Metro alerts and advisories into poetry, as an exercise in elevating our prosaic, irritating commutes.

An outbound Green Line train at Prince George’s Plaza
Was delayed because of a sick customer
Who required medical assistance.
Trains shared the opposite track
(until the person could be moved).

An inbound Yellow Line train at Huntington
Was dispatched late because Human Waste
Was found on the track.

An inbound Yellow Line train at Crystal City was delayed because of
a door problem
a mechanical problem
a personnel problem
a problem.
. . . .

An inbound Red Line train at Bethesda
Was delayed to allow Metro Transit Police
to search
for a suspect.

An inbound Red Line train at Cleveland Park
Was delayed to allow Metro Transit Police
to search
for disorderly children.

An inbound Red Line train at Rockville was delayed because of smoke.
a smoldering crosstie.
a debris fire.
On the track.
Customers experienced moderate delays.