Pre-coffee, I am expected to negotiate two tube lines, with a change in between where I have to leave one station, walk outside, cross one of the busiest roads in London, and enter another station in order to board the second train.
If it was up to me, I would not be sharing the first hours of my day with a squllion other people, in a tunnel a few miles underground. I would wake up in our lovely house in the countryside on the edge of a village, and stretch. Some days might involve a run, others; a read of the paper in front of the fire. There would be a Generally More Civilised start to proceedings.
But I will be faced with my morning commute for a little while yet. So last week I decided to see if I could find a way to make things a little interesting…
Now I get on the tube and look for my person: for the most interesting someone, and then I write a haiku about them and then I tweet it when I re-surface. My mission is to #tubeku every journey for one year (christened thus by the very awesome @marvelousmissy).
I have met some groovy haikuers out there in Twitterville, but the most surprising thing is that in just over a week, I have actually started to look forward to getting in that metal box and hurtle towards the city. I feel so much more connected to my fellow passengers, because I am so much more aware of them: of sensing moods and noticing expressions, a flash of colour, a shy glance.
I wonder about their story, what they might be thinking, who they are really.
Now I stop and get a coffee at the halfway point (nb: my starbucks name is Destiny) by which time, I have usually come up with an idea. The second leg is about counting syllables and playing with words in an especially dedicated notebook.
‘the sort of man who / wears his blackberry proudly / in a belt holster’
My starbux name is Stone. Not one barista has got the Seattle connection yet. I am unappreciated in my own time.
You are a poet
And don’t we know it.
Love your tubekus and that finally someone makes a successful connection on the underground.
x
I love #tubeku and feel sad I cannot partake. Even my new commute is easier by bus. Maybe I should do a bus version? :D
#bubeku
Love the concept. xo
you.
are.
brilliant.
x
I’m 5 hours behind you and when I get up in the AM it takes me a long time to truly wake up, so I usually laze in bed for a bit reading emails and twitter on my phone, and I always love your tubekus!
What a wonderful way to make your commute more bearable!
just when i think i can’t possibly love you even more…
hello, here you are again. amazing me with your wit and creativity.