Poetry Challenge: An Ode to Your Commute

"Oh where, oh where is my F train?"

In honor of National Poetry Month, WNYC is inviting listeners to take part in a weekly poetry challenge. Week One's assignment: write an original poem about your commute.

Read some listener submissions below, and get ready to submit your poems for Week Two's challenge: Write an original poem set in a bodega.

Use the hashtag #NYcityverse to submit your entry.

Tweet #NYcityverse

The Staten Island Ferry,
galumphing orange
oaf that it is,
is the hand that
uncovers the birdcage of my day,
unceremoniously ripping the
blanket of twilight
off my cozy morning haze,
grinning as it crumples
the deeply purple sky
and pockets the last
couple of stars.#NYCityVerse

— Anna Glenn Sparks (@anniesparkie) April 6, 2018

Ad copy is mostly harmless

But I hate those ads now posing
as poems
on the subway,
selling insurance software.
I hate those ads
like I hate
a too-slow train
or a train
that won’t stop
where it should.#NYCityVerse

— Safia Jama (@safiaPOET) April 11, 2018

"Listen," whispered Caleb.
"It's totally quiet."
And for a few brief moments at 7:39 am
No subway cars idled or rumbled by
No PSAs blared over the speakers
As the entire station held its breath
In awe and wonderment. #NYcityverse

— Chris Lopata (@ChrisLopata) April 6, 2018

Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen
I’m sorry to bother you
But does anyone have 7 bucks
Or 7 people have a dollar
For this man,
who is clearly
Too poor
to afford headphones?#NYCityVerse

— Stefan D-W (@DWstefan) April 7, 2018

#nycityverse
I long for subways
1,2,4,5,6
U see my commute is never that mix
Of sunrise or sunsets
Or F, C or A
it's merely 14 steps down
To my office everyday.
its lonely at times missing the world And its pace
And being blessed by connecting with our human race.

— Suzanne Tick Inc. (@SuzanneTickInc) April 6, 2018

Our bus is yellow
I imagine it's filled with jello

Some kids sing
It makes my ears ring

Finally our bus ride ends
We run inside to see our friends

The school bus is no longer our concern
until the afternoon's return ....

- Abbey, age 9#NYcityverse

— Sarah Jacobstein (@SarahJacobstein) April 6, 2018

Empty Seat

The empty seat
Would I ever fit
Why was it open
Could it be tainted

There is always the doubt
With the precede situation
But when you are tired and out
Who cares about the condition#NYcityverse

— Gwai (@estheticelement) April 7, 2018

The best agreement I ever did enter
was signing a lease near the Barclays Center.
Abandoned the bike, and sold the car -
Now take the 2, 3, 4, 5, B, Q, D, N, or R.#NYcityverse

— Josh Lefkowitz (@jelefko) April 6, 2018

#NYcityverse pic.twitter.com/DXbGsu8U32

— Sean (@ssmaguire2) April 6, 2018

Asking Siri, will it rain today?
I’ll prep my bike, and be on my way
It’s not warm, but it’s April not May
Surely cold hands are worth avoiding the A

#NYCityVerse

— John Harrington (@johnharrington) April 6, 2018

40 mile commute on the SAG and LIE.
Accompanied by coffee, granola and WNYC.
An hour of solitude, sustenance and flights of fancy. #NYCityVerse

— Mitch barber (@Mitchbarber21) April 7, 2018

(Oh, and Shumita received snail mail from one listener! See below.)

A listener mailed in her entry to WNYC's poetry challenge: "Write a poem about your commute."

(Shumita Basu/WNYC)