Wiersze w Metrze has been inspired by other similar projects which have taken place in, among others: Dublin, Paris, New York, Barcelona, Stockholm, Stuttgard and Moscow, but most of all by the Poems on the Underground initiated in London in 1986, an event which has been organised regularly from then onwards.

The aim of Wiersze w Metrze is to popularise contemporary European poetry in the Warsaw underground. During 2010 edition it will be accompanied by happenings, haiku competition, poetry graffiti competition, city game performing poetry festival and educational workshops.

Wiersze w Metrze has been initiated by the Book Institute and the British Council, There are many institutes of culture and embassies involved in it, as well as numerous partners. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the President of Warsaw, is the Honorary Patron for the venture