In the midst of London's bustling underground, commuters may stumble upon something unexpected—Chinese poetry. Among the verses that quietly accompany passengers through their daily commutes is a piece by the renowned poet Bei Dao (北岛):
I am you a stranger on the sidetracks
Waiting for the season to harvest blades of light
Sending letters though tomorrow has no address
This excerpt comes from Bei Dao's latest autobiographical long poem, The Crossroads Journey (歧路行). It has recently been selected for Poems on the Underground, a project founded by writer Judith Chernaik at University College London. The initiative places poetry—both classic and contemporary, from poets worldwide—inside the city's subway carriages, offering a moment of reflection amid the urban rush.
Poetry Beneath the Streets
According to the Transport for London website, displaying poetry in the Underground aims to make commutes more uplifting and inspiring. Over the years, the project has featured works from well-known literary figures and emerging voices alike. The selected poems are not just displayed on trains but have also been compiled into a published collection, Poems on the Underground.
Bei Dao's presence in the Underground is not new. In the 1980s, his poem Drawing (画), written for his daughter, Tian Tian, was displayed in London's subway for two months. His piece Winter's Journey (冬之旅) has also made an appearance in the network.
For Bei Dao, The Crossroads Journey represents one of his greatest writing challenges. Interrupted by illness for three years, the poem took eleven years to complete. He describes it as breaking away from his previous poetic structures, embracing uncertainty, and exploring the tensions between language, transformation, and the existential struggles of life.
The Essence of Bei Dao's Poetry
Bei Dao is often associated with the Misty Poetry (朦胧诗) movement, a literary movement that emerged in China in the late 1970s. His work is characterized by its cryptic language, layered meanings, and a sense of detachment from political or ideological constraints. Unlike conventional poetic narratives, his verses often leave room for multiple interpretations, making them both intimate and universal.
In The Crossroads Journey, this signature style is evident. The poem's imagery—strangers on sidetracks, letters with no address, and a season harvesting blades of light—evokes a deep sense of displacement and introspection. It speaks to themes of exile, memory, and the search for meaning in an uncertain world. This is a reflection of Bei Dao's own experiences; as a poet who spent many years in exile, his works often explore the tension between belonging and alienation.
While his early poems carried subtle political undertones, The Crossroads Journey moves toward a more personal and philosophical realm. It is a meditation on the fluid nature of time, identity, and the human condition, challenging readers to contemplate their own place in an ever-changing world.
Ancient Chinese Poetry in Translation
It's not just modern Chinese poetry that has found its way onto London's trains. Some commuters have reported coming across translations of classical works, including one from the Nineteen Ancient Poems (古诗十九首)—a collection dating back nearly two thousand years. One such poem, Blue, Blue is the Grass by the River (青青河畔草), reads:
Blue, blue is the grass about the river
And the willows have overfilled the close garden.
And within, the mistress, in the midmost of her youth,
White, white of face, hesitates, passing the door.
Slender, she puts forth a slender hand;
And she was a courtesan in the old days,
And she has married a sot,
Who now goes drunkenly out
And leaves her too much alone.
Judith Chernaik, the project's founder, emphasizes the international nature of the selections. Alongside Bei Dao, poets such as Indian writer Sujata Bhatt and Chinese-American poet Li-Young Lee have also been featured. "These poems share common themes," Chernaik explains, "celebrating life, love, freedom, and hope."
