Poetry in motion on the 36

Yorkshire author Caroline Matusiak found the perfect setting to inspire her to write poetry – gazing through the windows of our very own premium route, the 36!

Caroline is a regular customer on our flagship route between Ripon, Harrogate and Leeds – and her first published collection of poems, appropriately 36 in all, titled ‘The 36 from Ripon’, was released in 2024.

A prize winner at the 2023 Ripon Poetry Competition, much of Caroline’s writing reflects the sights and sounds of her journeys with us through some of Yorkshire’s finest countryside, towns and cityscapes.

And now, two years later, Caroline has published her second book of poems – this time, her collection is called “Words on the Bus.”

Caroline says: “The 36 bus from Ripon is my favourite writing retreat. Here, my poems are imagined, pondered and crafted. This new collection of 36 writings includes poetry inspired by the Ripon area, as well as other places further afield.”

Widely published poet, novelist and children’s author Kenneth Steven is impressed by Caroline’s debut collection. Kenneth says: “Read Caroline’s poem about the night sky, or about the fox on its velvet feet, and be taken into a landscape she has made her own.”

‘The 36 from Ripon’ and ‘Words on the Bus’ by Caroline Matusiak are available from The Little Ripon Bookshop at 12-13 Westgate and online.