In response to the add requesting poets to send poetry to the Daily News

                             Inez Harrison
                        302 West 122nd Street #1
                     New York, New York 10027-5303
                         Voice: (212) 666-6926
                          Data: (212) 666-6927

                                        February 14, 1994

Mr. Jack Lusk, Senior Vice President
Customer Service Department - Room 1311
New York City Transit Authority
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
370 Jay Street
Brooklyn, New York  11201

                     Ŀ
                      Re:  Poetry In Motion  
                     
Dear Mr. Lusk:

It has been quite some time since I last corresponded with you.  Your
last correspondence to me is dated December 3, 1992 in response to my
letter of November 10, 1992, and, I never received a response to my
letter of January 8, 1993.

At that time, after a brief conversation with a trademark attorney, and
the statement in your letter:

    "....  While we appreciate your offering to participate in
    choosing poems for "Poetry In Motion," we have staff people
    who work with the Poetry Society of America to pick the
    material we will use.  At this time we prefer to reprint work
    by well known poets.

    In addition, the MTA has a contract with an advertising
    agency to help us promote our services.  This would cover any
    poems or jingles we might use in the future."

which was in response to my statement:

    "In light of the fact that the poetry posters are geared
     towards the regular "John Doe" riding the subway, would it
     be too much to ask that some of those poems be written by a
     regular person?  A poem written in simple language so that
     it can be comprehended by all!"

I also stated:

    "I see the possibilities of an alliance between our two
     Poetry In Motions.  One thought is a contest so that MTA
     would have its own poem (for example like the song "New
     York, New York").  The contest would not only be viewed in
     the subways but internationally with my resources.

     I see riders not only trying to get from one place to another but
     looking forward to the next Poetry In Motion poster."

I have sat back for over a year, biting my tongue each and every time
someone inquired about "MY" Poetry In Motion in the subways and on
buses.  My own mother inquired about it and yet I did nothing but sit
back and sulk.  I did nothing about the fact that you totally ignored my
statements concerning the coincidence of the names but after seeing this
contest, posted in several newspapers, and more inquiry by friends, it
does make one wonder.  Here is a contest, similar to my suggestion to
you, in which there was no interest at all.

In my fax to you of January 8, 1993, to which you never responded, I was
seeking answers to numerous questions, i.e., how and from whom, the
transit authority acquired the title "Poetry In Motion" etc.

Things seem to be getting too coincidental for my taste and while not
wanting, or able, to accuse anyone of any wrong doing, in my opinion, it
reeks of plagiarism.

In November '93, my Poetry In Motion celebrated its second birthday and
because of it's wide distribution, the name was changed from Poetry In
Motion - The Poetry Newsletter to Poetry In Motion - The International
Poetry Newsletter.

The next time someone confuses my Poetry In Motion with the MTAs Poetry
In Motion, I, for once, would like to be able to respond that "John Doe"
came up with this idea on his/her own.

I have worked long and hard on Poetry In Motion and the fact that people
constantly associate the MTAs Poetry In Motion with mine tells me that
my work has not been in vain, and so, I don't think it's asking too much
for a little information so that I don't have to feel depressed each
time I have to convince someone that I'm not associated with the MTAs
Poetry In Motion at all.


                                        Sincerely,
                                        Inez Harrison

cc:  Mr. Alan F. Kiepper
     President
     New York City Transit Authority
     Metropolitan Transportation Authority
     370 Jay Street
     Brooklyn, New York  11201

     Daily News/TA Poetry Contest
     P.O. Box 300
     Grand Central Station
     New York, New York 10163
     Attn.:  Editor

     The Poetry Society of America
     15 Gramercy Park
     New York, New York  10003
     Attn.:  Ms. Elise Paschen

     Mayor's Office of Transportation and
        SIP Coordination
     52 Chambers Street - Room 306
     New York, New York  10007

bcc: Ram Sundar, Esq.
     Eric Stenshoel, Esq.
     WCS&G

          (Previous correspondence available upon requestion)
