Far Away is Close at Hand in Images of Elsewhere

[curate]

I think everyone who travelled in or out of Paddington in the 1980s/early 90s will be familiar with this famous piece of graffiti (on the left as one approached Paddington). Apparently, the first six words are from Robert Graves' poem Song of Contrariety:

Far away is close at hand
Close joined is far away,
Love will come at your command
Yet will not stay

...and the rest is from Ruth Padell's Imagery of Elsewhere

I believe it appeared in 1974, and I also believe (though this may be an urban myth) that BR staff, rather than washing it off the wall, went and touched it up with white paint. I think it eventually disappeared when the entire wall was demolished to make room for a multi-storey car-park. Though I'm not a fan of graffiti, seeing this one used to brighten my day when I was forced to go to the capital.

Does anyone have a date for its disappearance?

David

[rufuskins]

My understanding is that it disappeared sometime around 1980, but I have no real evidence for this. It possibly reappeared circa 1999 briefly until 2000.

Alec

[curate]

Thank you.

[CaptainBazza]

Has it appeared elsewhere?

Cheers Bazza

[curate]

Has it appeared elsewhere?

Mmm. Quite close at hand.

David