‘Banksy of poetry’ strikes again with three mysterious poems sent to Norwich hairdresser
Gary Thompson, owner of GT's Male Hair Design salon has received poems through the post. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
A hairdresser in Norwich has been left scratching his head after being sent three poems by a mysterious writer dubbed the 'Banksy of poetry'.
The three poems. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
The poet, who goes by the name of Mark Jones, has sent the poems to GT's Male Hair Design in Prince of Wales Road in the city.
Gary Thompson, of Turner Road has run the hairdressers for the past 17 years. He received the first poem on Thursday May 18 and has had one delivered to him every week since.
Mr Thompson said: 'I've received three poems, all about a week apart, they are hand written with hand written envelopes, posted from the same place in Lancashire.'
The poems are about a robin, being brave in the working class and what it means to respect people.
The first poem about a robin. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
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'I have no idea why he's doing it or why he is targeting hairdressers. I guess he's just looking to spark conversation and he knows that we'll talk about anything and everything.
'Whether he was a hairdresser at one point I don't know.'
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The cryptic writer has been sending poems across the UK for the past six years, with them popping through the letter-boxes of hairdressers in Scotland, Cardiff and West Yorkshire.
Earlier this year Trends Hair Salon in Norwich was sent the same poem about the robin.
The second poem he received. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
'No one knows anything about him, he's not coming forward or claiming any publicity for anything. He's a man of mystery by the sounds of it.' Mr Thompson added.
'I was going to throw it away but when I spoke to my customers about it they said I should type his name into Google and up came a story. I found out other people have been getting them from all over,
'I just thought this is very random, it's a bit weird.'
All the poems end the same way, with the words: 'Keep your chin up. Keep smiling.' All three have been signed by Mr Jones.
The third poem he received. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
'Mr Thompson said: 'They're not exactly hugely long but it's sparking a real interest in people, 'They're always the same. On black card in white ink, in a white envelope, hand written, it's all a bit of a mystery.
'I think he doesn't want the publicity he wants to spark people's appreciation for poetry and conversation.
'It's a nice gesture, especially in this time and day with what's going on in the world,'
The address the poems have been sent from. Picture : ANTONY KELLY - Credit: copyright ARCHANT 2017
