The lives of seven Greenlink bus riders were recently captured and shared through pieces of poetry.
Led by city of Greenville Poet Laureate Glenis Redmond, the Greenlink Poetry Project features a collection of poems centered around the theme “Why I Ride.” The project’s goal was to raise awareness about the need for accessible public transportation in Greenville.
“It’s so interesting, especially in this area, sometimes there can be stereotypes about who rides the bus,” Redmond said. “We wanted to demystify that. We wanted to interview people so they can give us their journey and there are people from all different walks of life. There is no typical bus rider.”
The project began in early spring 2023 with Redmond selecting local poets to help with the collection. Each interviewed a bus passenger and used what they heard to craft a poem.
The collection’s seven poems include:
- “Ride with Pride and Drive” by Glenis Redmond
- “Riding and Stopping Then Riding Again” by Ashley Crout
- “Etrulia Tubbs” by Kimberly Simms
- “Shapeshift” by Kathleen Nalley Moore
- “David Rides the Bus” by John Pursley and Sarah Blackman
- “Greenlink” by Amber Sherer
- “The Art of Riding the Bus: A Tribute to Jessica Majerus” by Starry Walker
- “Follow the God Trail” by Anna Catro Spratt, the city’s youth poet laureate
A celebration and launch event was held Sept. 7 at M.Judson Booksellers for the Greenlink Poetry Project. City and Greenville Transit Authority leadership, along with members of the community, listened to live readings of the project’s poetry.
“Their stories are important,” Greenville Mayor Knox White said. “That’s why the city and the county are investing in a reliable, sustainable urban-transit system. That commitment will continue to grow.”
The poetry will be displayed inside buses, on rack cards, on bus shelters and on the Greenlink website. Video of the poets reading their work can also be found online.
For more information, visit greenvillesc.gov/2163/Greenlink-Poetry-Project.
