Enjoy your commute
With time to breathe, read or sleep
Free wi-fi to boot.
(Ross Thompson)
Recognise the headline? It’s a haiku, a three-lined traditional form of Japanese poetry and Translink has organised a competition across June and July to inspire commuters to come up with their own haiku for a chance of seeing it printed and displayed in the passenger transport company’s stations across Northern Ireland.
As part of its Life’s better campaign, Translink has teamed up with Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership to encourage passengers to tap into their inner poet, to sit back, relax and perfect their poetic prose while onboard bus, coach or train. Inspiration can be taken from the stunning scenery on the journey, the environmental and financial benefits associated with travelling with Translink or simply the use of the free wifi onboard to write a haiku poem.
Lynda Shannon, Translink Communications Manager said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership to find Northern Ireland’s best travel related haiku. Our customers are always giving us different reasons as to why their life’s better on board the bus or train and indeed many are now Translink ambassadors because they want to share the benefits with others. This initiative is a quirky way for more people to do this in a fun and creative way.
“Though the medium of creative writing we hope to get even more people to see how using the bus and train could make their life better – so if anyone has some free time to spare on their journey please get pen to paper, finger to Smartphone or stylus to tablet and let share your creative haiku. Simply submit your three line poem online at www.translink.co.uk/poetryinmotion/ or tweet us using the hash tag #translinklifesbetter.”
Four winning haiku will be chosen and winning authors will see their haiku on display in Translink stations across Northern Ireland.
Translink will work with Poetry NI and Community Arts Partnership to select the winners that best reflect how travelling by bus and train can make your life better.
“Haiku is an instantly recognisable, accessible form of poetry, and an excellent format for the expression of ideas. Often a haiku is based on vivid imagery, emphasizing simplicity, intensity and directness of expression.” said poet Colin Dardis who got the ball rolling with a haiku session at Great Victoria Street Station.
“It’s brilliant that Translink is using poetry to engage with the public and encouraging people to write. I’m looking forward to reading all the entries relating to people’s travel experiences and how it makes their life better.”
The Community Arts Partnership, one of Northern Ireland’s leading organizations in the promotion, development and delivery of community arts practices is also lending its support to the Life’s Better Haiku competition by driving awareness across its network and being part of the judging panel.
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