Comments on: Campaign to Put the Poem Back in Waterloo Underpass

By: Dai Vaughan

Dai Vaughan — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:12:27 +0000

Network Rail have been condemned here in Glasgow for cutting down, without any neighbour notification, a huge number of trees and bushes along railway lines. They have been carrying out a scorched earth policy, which is total vandalism.
So, they should replant trees, bushes……….AND POEMS, which were all a pleasure to all and should be once more.
Dai Vaughan

By: Lance Pierson

Lance Pierson — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:23:24 +0000

I lead poetry walks for the London Walks Company, showing people pieces of poetry inscribed in public places. I have the strongest objection to losing one of these treasures without so much as a by your leave. Please reinstate it at once.

By: Suzanna Fitzpatrick

Suzanna Fitzpatrick — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:55:50 +0000

It is disgraceful that Network Rail have vandalised this poem without the consent of either Sue Hubbard, the Arts Council, or the BFI (who are co-owners of the tunnel, and co-funded the project with the Arts Council). It is a clear example of bureacratic laziness and meanness of spirit; slop the paint up without checking first (becuse checking might cause complications) then utter a feeble, lip-service ‘apology’ but say that no money is available to reinstate the poem. Fait accompli. Network Rail have behaved with appalling philistinism, and should be shamed into paying to restore the poem, since it is their actions which have vandalised it. Projects such as this poem are what humanise our cities and our lives; we can’t let them be taken away without a fight.

By: Jeremy Tankard

Jeremy Tankard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:39:26 +0000

As the designer of the typeface used for this poem. I felt very privileged it was chosen to set the words. I fully back its continuing presence.

By: E F

E F — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:30:56 +0000

The weight and fervour of responses here suggests that poetry still has a place in people’s hearts, minds and indeed public spaces; a space that was once so atmospheric is now horrendously surgical. Bring it back.

By: Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:53 +0000

can a yankee weigh in here… surely we can only benefit from your intended example in this arena… bring back that quintessential london poetry in the subterranean setting… bring it all back home… great work salt of the earth…

By: Christopher James Heyworth

Christopher James Heyworth — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:05:02 +0000

Well done all at Salt – the painting over without any consultation is a true disgrace. The more people prepared to join up here, the better.

By: angus

angus — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:33:29 +0000

Does the Arts Council know about this? It definitely needs putting back.

By: Carla Lever

Carla Lever — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:06:14 +0000

Drowning in blue, indeed. The irony.

Cityscapes are too often purely functional, dry spaces. “Eurydice” – and all the other wonderful examples of public art – remind us these spaces can be interacted with, can be played with. They remind us that a simple act of walking through a cityspace can be a chance to travel some…where further than concrete reality. Sue, if nothing else, I am glad this has given you the opportunity to hear just how much the journey meant to people from all over the world.

Blank walls equal blank minds. We are, unfortunately, confronted with an abundance of both.

By: Mark Pimlott

Mark Pimlott — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:33:27 +0000

These words are significant. They seep into people’s consciousness. The owners of the site could see them as a gift.
Please restore them, and believe in the people who walk, who work, who read, who live, who love.