Poems Written for a Poster Competition on the Underground.

Oxford Circus – carriage one,

The Central Line – Oh what fun!

Two huge figures blocking the door

So they can’t take any more

From the platform’s waiting hoard

Unless they force their way aboard.

  

You feel quite ill – please don’t remain

Until you faint aboard the train.

Get off now – do not wait,

And then you won’t make others late.

  

Your music might be really nice,

But please, oh please, take our advice

And turn it down, so all around

Aren’t distracted by the sound,

Blaring out for all to hear,

Keep it low – just for your ear.

Among those standing you may see

Some with a disability.

If you do don’t look away,

But smiling turn to them and say:

“Please have my seat,” and you will find

They will respond: “You are so kind.”

  

Take a station – any one,

You’ll find the rush hour is no fund,

With people blocking all the doors,

Selfish ones who are the cause

Of others then being made to way;

Please move along – don’t make them late.

 "Move down the platform" -  don't ignore

Requests from staff, though you adore

Stopping as soon as you reach your place         

Even though there's only space                                               

For just a few, while further on

There is room where you could have gone.

  

On trains I don’t want to spend my time

Surrounded so often by rubbish and grime,

So collect up your litter before you go,

Ensuring that everything’s left “just so.”

I’m not obese – it’s my baby bump,

Which now feels like a ten ton lump.

So everyone, if you are fit

Please swap places and let me sit.

  

Cartons, bottles, papers too,

Make sure they’re not left by you.

Decide today that you’ll begin

To put all rubbish in a bin.

When doors are closing, stand aside,

Don’t try and force your way inside.

If you do, you will delay

The moving of the train away.

Or you may get hurt, so use your brain

And catch a few minutes later train.

  

Six o’clock and you’re really wacked;

A train arrives that’s solidly packed

With people wanting to alight,

Remember that it’s always right

To let them off first; you can afford

An extra minute before you board

Priority seating is not designed

With strong and healthy people in mind,

But those who have a need to sit

Because they are not totally fit,

Or maybe pregnant, or carrying a child –

For them priority seat are so styled.

  

Don’t be selfish, and congregate

One end of the platform, but move along

Away from the entrance, as you’re asked,

In the announcers’ regular song.

They don’t ask you just for fun,

But so there’s room for everyone.

  

“A person ill.”  How we all hate

To hear those words, especially if late.

So be considerate, not sinner but saint,

Alight when you start feeling faint.

Then the train won’t be delayed

As it might be if you’d stayed.

  

You might think it’s clever

But really you should never

Try and hold the doors ajar;

It’s more dangerous by far

Than to stand there with a smile

And wait just a little while.

  

Some platforms have only one entrance,

So don’t just arrive and then stand,

Blocking the entrance for others;

Instead join the courteous band

Who move right along as requested

So all of the platform is spanned.

We would like to make it clear

Litter louts aren’t wanted here,

So no matter where you roam

Always take your litter home,

Unless you see a rubbish bin,

Which you then can put it in.

  

Music, music, everywhere,

But do remember it’s not fair

To make your neighbours listen in

To what they may regards as din.

  

Don’t litter the trains with your waste,

For others don’t want to be faced

With paper and bottles of yours

Scattered on seats and on floors.

Remember also that your feet

Belong on the floor, not a seat.

  

No matter what your music is

it might put someone in a tiz,

If it’s so loud that they can hear,

So keep it down, just for your ear.

 “Move right along,” the announcer says,

While people stand there in a daze,

Blocking the doors, when there’s room,

No wonder it makes other people fume.

So be in the right, not in the wrong,

If there’s space, then move along.

  

You’re strong and healthy; how can you

Continue to sit when I am due

To have a baby just next week,

And there is one thing that I seek

Which standing I at present lack,

A place to sit and rest my back.

The “Baby on Board” badge let’s you know

That even if there is little to show

The lady is carrying an extra load,

So anyone sitting, don’t be a toad,

Get up and offer her your seat

And take the weight off the lady’s feet.

 You’re feeling sick – no almost dead,

Your stomach’s wonky, and so’s your head.

Don’t just stay and hope for the best,

Instead get off and have a rest.

Then other passengers won’t be delayed,

As would be likely if you had stayed.

  

If illness strikes you on the train

Waves of nausea again and again,

Think of others, get off and wait

Until you’re in a better state.

Don’t continue to travel until,

You’re no longer quite so ill.

  

Loud music really is a bore,

And it won’t be long before,

Those around you feel like saying,

“Stop the racket you are playing.”

So turn it down, so you can hear,

But not all others that are near.

  

Lour music is so out of place

In a crowded, confined space.

So please ensure just you can hear,

Not everyone remotely near.

  

No wonder so many people fume

When even though there’s plenty of room

Someone’s blocking all the door

With piles of luggage on the floor.

Let thought for others be your guide,

Don’t block the door, but move inside.

  

Litter, litter, everywhere,

Passengers are in despair.

there is nowhere that is fit

For new travellers to sit.

Leaving rubbish is a “No.”

Take your with you when you go.

  

I don’t want your empty bottles,

Nor your cartons, not your food;

Leaving such things in the carriage,

I really feel is very rude.

So take your rubbish; I don’t want it,

If you don’t either, then please bin it.

  

If you’re seated, look around

And one day you will be bound

To see a person who’s in need

For just one place to be freed,

So they can sit; will it be yu

Who offers them what they are due?

  

Let others off first; only the dense

Could fail to realise this makes sense.

For no-one wise could really believe,

it’s best to board before others leave.

So let them all off, and then get on,

And don’t forget to move along.

The yellow box is there to say

That those arriving should not stay

But move along right to the end,

Not as they so often tend

Just crowd the entrance while the rest

With oodles of empty space is blessed.

Litter lout! Litter lout!

Not our favourite person.

While they’re active in their work

Things can only worsen.

Time to change; let all see,

Just how tidy you can be.

One day we’ll have them on the run,

Those selfish types who think it’s fun

To play their music at full blast,

But hopefully they will at last

Learn what other travellers know,

That music should be kept down low.

If someone’s carrying a toddler,

They really need to sit

And here is an opportunity

For you to do your bit.

                                                 

 Some like it loud – some like it soft,

But remember your music should not waft

Into the ears of those nearby,

Therefore you should always try

To keep it down, so it’s just for you            -

Don’t make others listen too.

 I’ve a baby on board, who makes me feel,

That life at the moment is unreal.

My feet are aching; my back’s a mess

Am I knackered? – the answer’s “Yes.”

It’s tiring to stand, so do let me sit,

If you’re in a seat and are also fit.

  

If your music’s too loud, you won’t hear,

Announcements even if they’re clear.

You won’t know as you travel along

If all is fine, or something’s wrong.

So keep it quiet and you won’t find

On the latest info, you’re left behind.

Priority seat are there for those,

Who cannot stand for long;

So please watch out for those in need

If you are fit and strong.

  

Always look out for someone in need

There is your chance to do a good deed.

For some people standing can be bleak -

Offer your to seat the frail and weak.

  

The selfish may always be with us,

But that doesn’t have to mean you.

So offer you seat to the needy,

The women whose baby’s near due,

Also the old and disabled,

Those carrying children too.

  

Selfishness is something we

On the Tube, don’t want to see.

Please ensure you never fail

To give your seat up to the frail,

And others that need it more than you,

The pregnant, old, disabled too.

Your music may be really great,

But will you kindly not inflate

The sound that passes to your ears,

And so ensure that no-one hears

The music which you may adore,

But others find a frightful bore.

  

You may thoroughly enjoy

Lour music, but it will annoy

So many others round about,

As sounds so easily slip out

From your earphones; so will you please

On  high volume, put a freeze.

  

Don’t be so nimble, don’t be so quick,

But look out for the old and sick;

If they need a seat, please offer yours,

And then you will have every cause

To feel you’ve done today’s good deed,

By helping those who are in need.

  

You’re feeling grim, and you want to be sick,

But please don’t feel you have to stick

On the train until your final stop,

But get off long before you drop

In a faint on the floor, and cause delay,

To everyone on the train that day.

You’re now on the train, but please don’t stop,

Instead always make it a rule to zoom,

Down the carriage as far as you can,

So that there will be plenty of room,

For others behind you in the crush

Of travellers who are all in a rush.

  

Are you a litter bug? Surely not!

For litter bugs have so obviously got

No sense of pride in keeping clean

Their bit of the local scene.

If you are, make a vow today,

To always take your litter away.

  

North, south, east and west,

What sort of people to we like best?

Those who offer up their seat,

To anyone needy that they meet.

Be considerate – think of others,

The old, frail and soon-to-be mothers.

 Everyone, please use your brain,

And let the people off the train,

Before you join the waiting hoard,

In a rush to get on board.

Standing aside won’t make you late,

In fact you’ll have less time to wait.

  

Move! Move! Down the platform,

Right to the very end;

That way you and all the others

Will not have to spend,

Your time cooped up in a tiny place,

Instead of spread out in all that space.

  

“Let the people off first.” – Good advice

Because it really isn’t nice

Intelligent or very bright,

To hinder those who would alight.

So let them off and then get on,

And you’ll be much more quickly gone.

“Take it with you.” That’s the rule

Of the considerate travellers school.

Think of others – use your brain,

And don’t leave litter on the train.

White? Oh surely you can guess,

Others don’t want all your mess.

  

Lou music’s a menace for others around

All you need do is to lower the sound.

Just keep it for you

And you won’t cause offence.

If you think for a moment

You know it makes sense.

If three’s a crowd, then the underground

Is the most crowded place around.

Don’t make it worse by getting on

And failing then to move along.

For it is a well-known fact,

Moving will make the doors less packed.

  

If it’s squashed by the doors, then move along

For away from the crowded throng

Who seem to think that it is great,

Like sardines there to congregate.

You know that moving makes good sense,

For there the crowd is far less dense.

  

The seats of a train are not the place

To dump your rubbish for others to face.

We’d much prefer you’d be so kind

To take it with you, not leave it behind.

  

Don’t rush but let the others off first

Then you know you won’t be cursed

By people who’re struggling through the crowd

Hoping so much that they’ll be allowed

To get of the train before it moves on

For then their chance to alight is gone.

 Fighting litter all the way,

That’s how I spend half my day,

Trying to keep the station clean

When so many are so mean

And seemingly without a care

Drop their litter everywhere.

  

On stations there’s litter everywhere,

For many people don’t seem to know,

They oughtn’t to drop if where they are

But take it with them when they go.

Stations and trains would be more clean

If litter were taken away from the scene.

 I want to alight – will I be allowed?

I hope I can push through the crowd

That’s surging on, not letting me off,

Whatever you think, please do not scoff.

Coping with crowds is fine if you’re tall,

But not so easy for those who are small.

  

I need to sit, but seats are all taken,

So here I am feeling frail and forsaken,

Hoping that someone will notice my need,

For I will be ever so grateful indeed,

If they’d be so kind and let me sit down,

And make me the happiest lady in town.

 You’re ill – not wait will you are bad,

Before getting off; you’ll be really glad

If you alight before you faint;

For others won’t think of you as a saint

If you collapse and cause a delay

To get off earlier is a much better way.

  

Priority seats are there for a reason

For those who can’t stand

More than just a short time,

So please do not hog them

Thus causing distress

If you are  a person who’s still in their prime

If you fail to move along

Then it won’t be very long

Before the entrance is quite blocked,

And everyone will then be locked

Touching each other on every side,

And having a rather unpleasant ride.

  

If your music’s very loud,

With your mid up in a cloud,

Please think of others down below

Who really might not want to know

What your tastes in music are,

Preferring peace and quiet by far.

  

Loud music’s a pleasure you really enjoy

But no-one has the right to destroy

The peace and quiet that others prefer

So turn it down from shrieking to purr.

  

Life on the tube can be quite dire,

If no-one thinks of other’s needs

So always make it your desire

To be the kindly one who heeds,

The plight of those who need to sit

And always, always, do your bit.

  

One thing the tube can do without

Is another thoughtless litter lout;

So if at present you believe,

That you have the right to leave

Unwanted items on the train –

That’s anti-social; please think again.

  

If everyone would move along

Inside the car, the jostling throng

Which occupies the entrance now

Would disappear; and so I vow

That I will not in future stay,

Where I get on, but move away.

 Perhaps you feel it is a bind

To take your litter home,

But fellow travellers will mind

Your leaving it where you roam.

Think of them and not yourself,

Don’t be a disliked litter elf.

  

Litter leavers, please be aware

What you’re doing is unfair.

Other don’t want all the junk,

You leave behind when you do a bunk.

Don’t you think you should be begin,

To take and put it in a bin?

  

Some seats are reserved

For those who can’t stand;

If fortunately you

Don’t belong to this band,

Give your seat to someone who does

And give to yourself a satisfied buzz.

  

If you try to hold the doors

You will simply be the cause

Of delaying the train;

So please think again

And know you’ve others’ secret applause.

  

My back is aching, my feet are too,

So I’d be most delighted if you

Would give your seat to a soon to be mum

Who’s currently feeling rather glum,

With all the extra weight on board -     

She hopes her plight won’t be ignored.

  

I’m heavily preggers,  as you can see,

And standing is now quite tiring for me,

So I’d be grateful if you could find

In your hear to be so kind

As to offer me the priority seat

So that I can rest my feet.

 A baby on board! I’m really thrilled,

And several months later I am billed

As someone who often needs a seat

To rest my weary back and feet.

I’d be so grateful if you could see

Your way to offer your seat to me.

 When it’s busy, move along from the doors

For standing there will surely cause

The crush to get greater, but if you go

To the end of the car, you’ll with one blow

Reduce the squash and make more space,

Producing a much less crowded place.

  

No-one life a litter elf,

So please ensure that you yourself

Don’t leave your rubbish on the train,

For those who do are such a pain.

Can’t they see that what they’ve done

Is spoiling things for everyone?

  

Litter elves should be ashamed

Even though they may have claimed

Why should anybody mind,

It wasn’t much they left behind.

But little or large, they still should know

To take their litter when they go.

  

It’s childish to just drop your litter,

Real adults take it away;

So next time you’re thinking of littering,

Is it adult or child you’ll display?

  

Litter elves are not required

And their actions not desired

For they cause the trains to be

Very messy; can’t they see

It would be better for everyone,

If of litter there was none.

 My arm is in plaster, my leg is the same,

So everyone here can see I’m quit lame;

Standing is hard; I can’t reach the bar

So even though I might be not going far,

I really do need that priority seat

So I can rest both my arm and feet.

  

I’m the size of a house – well not just me

For I’m soon expecting a baby you see,

And while at the start I was really fine,

Now I’m reaching the end of the line,

I need that seat, if you’d be so kind,

To take the weight off my feet and mind.

  

Litter elf, please go away,

We don’t want you here today,

Messing up our nice clean trains;

Really, haven’t you any brains?

For surely you must understand,

Dropping litter here is banned.

  

We do not welcome litter elves

Whose thoughts are only for themselves,

And whose abilities are vast

To make our travellers look aghast,

At a scene they really hate,

A carriage in a filthy state.

  

A litter elf is usually blind

To all the rubbish he leaves behind,

And it probably doesn’t jar

When he sees a dirty car.

But litter elf! – your ways amend,

Don’t continue to offend.

 You may think that littering’s fun –

Few others would agree;

So think of them and not yourself,

This is our heartfelt plea,

to those whose attitude displays,

Lack of concern for civilised way.

  

“Litter elf!

Stay on your shelf,”

This is our heartfelt song;

On a train,

We say again,

Is not where you belong.

  

Litter elves should think again,

When they travel on a train,

And keep their rubbish by their side,

And coming to the end of their ride,

Take it with them as they ought,

And as all travellers have been taught.

 Litter elves cause extra work,

So let me make it clear,

Until you’ve learned to mend your ways,

You’re not wanted here.

But I think we’d all agreed,

Tidy elves we’d love to see.

  

A problem very soon will loom,

When all your junk means there’s no room

Where people on the train can sit;

So if you’re one of the selfish few,

Who never take it home with you –

Litter bug! – it’s time to quit.

 Please don’t be a litter elf,

Thinking only of yourself;

Any rubbish take it home,

Like a wise and kindly gnome,

Then the trains will be spick and span;

Just think of others – you know you can.

 We don’t need any litter elves,

Those who care just for themselves,

 Leaving the carriage like a tip.

With perhaps a kebab or soggy chip;

Take it with you, yes every bit,

Don’t leave it there where people sit.

  

Little things can mean so much,

Like making it your style,

To turn to people frail or old,

And offer with a smile

The seat you’ve got and which they need,

Making someone happy indeed.

  

If litter elves are out in force,

The train will very soon of course

Be rather messy and not nice,

So I have some free advice,

To litter elves, can you retrieve

All your rubbish before you leave.

  

Please, oh please, listen to my plea,

For you to give your seat to me,

If where you’re sitting is designed,

With frail passengers in mind.

  

Yellow boxes are there to show,

The bit of the platform you should leave,

Moving along away from the entrance,

But some times it is hard to believe,

That anyone knows this, as they crowd,

In just one space where it’s not allowed.

it’s not very bright to drop litter,

So stop for a moment and think,

Does anyone else want your rubbish,

And then you will see the link

Between what you do and to others,

And then draw back from the brink.