‘Dew’ by Kay Ryan

^{Image source: Library of Congress}

As neatly as peas in their green canoe,
as discreetly as beads strung in a row,
sit drops of dew along a blade of grass.

But unattached and subject to their weight,
they slip if they accumulate.

Down the green tongue out of the morning sun
into the general damp,
they’re gone.

– Kay Ryan (1945)

This is my second time sharing a NYC subway poem and by the looks of it, won’t be my last. Just like the first, ‘A Name’ by Ada Limón, this poem captivated me. It’s easy to get lost in the subway system’s congestion & chaos but this quick read does something rejuvenating to the soul. You can find more subway poetry (past & present) by clicking here for MTA’s Arts & Design poetry page.