Grey ugly structures, if not brown.
A city on the shores of a great lake
Toronto, Trapped by its own CN tower wake!
Amongst more glass, steel and failed modernism
Lay some dramatic buildings of yore
Yet, too little too few for eyes already sore
But then she made me walk, 15 minutes at a time
Through bustling streets and changing faces
Between variegated cuisines and many ethnic races
A man, with another man, hand in hand
Walked liberally in the gay village
While an artist sat, peacefully amongst his rummage
Eventually we moved south, through human streets
To reach a shore much neglected
Except by perhaps talkers and metabolic birds frayed
Evening fell and so did the light
Perfectly, if I may add, on historical distillery district
Oh how beautiful was this brew of man despite
Some more walking, then ensured
To a semi empty bus, to a knee respite
But the day was done, and night had begun
So black was worn, and sushi was had
Did I mention of another odd minute walk?
Yet the food was perfect with intriguing talk.
The city now felt redeemed
I had forgiven the ridiculous architecture
For its superb eclectic soul and stature
An old house converted to a new lounge
Most bars remained opened to heavens galore
As Toronto’s young bustled although poor
Finally I got it, this city of demure faces
It wasn’t trying to be anything or any mold
All it had was its people and what each one sold
It grew as it wished and people lived
As they had before, free and un-tempered
Sometimes mad, but most times simmered
Sure, the whale ate the squid
And the fashion mostly stunk (funk)
But what mattered was the soul
As there it was, in abundance
On crowded streets and in empty subways
A city like no other, yet skewed straight.
For Shreya, to whom I owe Toronto and for showing me where south always is.
See, if you know where south always is, then you know where east always is, and west always is , and north always is. It follows that you know where you always are, unless you’re walking with me and I say its fiftenn minutes away!
D! It was fun!
Nice post. I wonder if you have read your own previous posts. The evolution of your posts is interesting. You seem to have gone from prose with smatterings of poetry to poetry with smatterings of prose.
Perhaps it also explains why you didn’t fancy what I wrote.
Shreya : I had almost forgotten your penchant for the obvious. Yes, it was a lot of fun.
Anon: Thanks. I am quite shocked to hear this from you. But despite what you think I am still awaiting your piece on West Virginia’s finest.
Hey,
I didnt know u went to canada…:(
u never tell me anything…
(just a reminder of what i used to put u thru in india:))
Hey! Nice…wonderful way to spend a weekend (I assume, it was one of ur weekend trips as usual)..
Did u drive down??
luv,
PN
wow!gorgeous
PN: It was actually a business trip during the week. So much so for work!
Maya: Thank you.
seemd like it did hv a soulful connection with you! whether for wrk or play, guess such adventures are always welcome!
Kewl! You get to mix business with pleasure 🙂
Good one! The pics are beutiful.
guess u had a great time… beautiful pics…
Mahesh and Divi: Thank you!
beautiful…
soumya