When Britain’s most prestigious literary appointment meets progressive rock’s most introspective masterpiece, something extraordinary happens. Simon Armitage, the nation’s Poet Laureate since 2019, has composed “Dear Pink Floyd” — a commissioned poem honoring the 50th anniversary of Wish You Were Here. This isn’t your typical anniversary tribute. It represents a cultural crossover that validates what fans have known for decades: Pink Floyd created art worthy of serious literary engagement.
Translating Sound Into Verse
The 62-year-old poet took on what he calls an undoable project — translating the untranslatable experience of Wish You Were Here into language. “I was thinking about the album and their noise, and what effect that has had on people right across the globe,” Armitage explained, as reported by Music News. He crafted something “album-shaped, that would fit onto the side of an LP and bleed right to the margins of a square.”
The poem mimics the record’s continuous flow — no gaps, just “a wall of warm sound” transformed into text. This formal innovation demonstrates how contemporary poetry can engage with rock music’s structural elements.
A Fan’s Visceral Connection
Armitage discovered Pink Floyd at 17, seeking something more introspective after punk’s initial rush. Five decades later, the album still triggers the same physical response. “There aren’t many artistic experiences in the form of noise that send shivers up my spine and make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up,” he told Music News. “But when I put Wish You Were Here on as a record, and it begins, I get that feeling every single time.”
Your streaming playlist might shuffle through hundreds of songs, but few albums maintain that kind of emotional grip across decades.
Boxing Up Musical History
The Wish You Were Here 50 Deluxe Box Set arrives December 12, 2025, with Armitage’s poem alongside significant archival discoveries. Pink Floyd recently shared “The Machine Song (Roger’s demo)” — an early version of “Welcome To The Machine” by Roger Waters, Music News reports. The collection includes five additional alternate versions and demos, creating a time capsule that spans from the album’s creation to its current literary celebration.
This crossover represents more than anniversary marketing. When Britain’s Poet Laureate — a position established in 1616 — dedicates formal verse to a rock album, it signals rock music’s complete integration into the cultural establishment. You’re witnessing the moment when progressive rock officially transcends entertainment to become recognized art.
