As we have a thread going on oddball anti-sexism signs, this reminded me of a truly whacky series of signs in one of the many pedestrian tunnels of the Times Square subway station in NY. These appear over your head in the tunnel from the A/C/E/Port Authority section to the IRT No. 7 line, at approximately, I would guess, ten foot intervals:
Sign 1: So Tired
Sign 2: If Late
Sign 3: Get Fired
Sign 4: Why the Pain?
Sign 5: Go Home
Sign 6: Do It Again.
Sign 7: A photo of a bunch of rumpled sheets on a bed, with a vaguely piano-like pattern.
Hmm, that looks right. I’ll have to watch out for that on Monday morning.
What really clinches it is that picture of the rumpled sheets at the end.
Could you post the link, please?
I believe there is a plaque at one end of the tunnel that credits that poem - I believe it is entitled “The Subway Rider’s Lament” or something. This doesn’t answer the question of why the MTA put that poem there - did they comission it? Was the poet pushy? Who knows.
But your assignment is to look at that plaque (if it exists) and report back to us.
Autumn, you are correct.
It’s small, white, (well, maybe off-white. This is the subway we’re talking about.) on the No. 7 side of the tunnel, just above an inlaid sign pointing to 7th Ave on the left and 8th Ave on the right. According to the sign, the poem is called “Commuter’s Lament, or The Close Shave”, 1991, by Norman Cole.
Didn’t get a close enough look at the sign to see if there’s any explanation as to exactly how this guy managed to get his little ditty permanently installed in the subway. I imagine there’s more than a few graffiti artists who are green with envy, and would love to know how to get their masterpieces (such as they are) permanently exhibited down there.