as I walk Toronto

There is a railway underpass on Dupont just before it meets Dundas West.  Several years ago the north side of the underpass was decorated with some murals.  Most of them are in bad shape or have been tagged or painted over.

below: Unity is one of the original murals here.  It is the best preserved.

This wall has also become a place to comment on life in words and and poetry.

below: Through the fires of chaos, let there be light!  ~ ” blessed be!”

“The man who misses all the fun is he who says it can’t be done.
With solemn pride he stands aloof and greets each venture with reproof.
Had he the power he’d efface the history of the human race
There’d be no motor cars or streets lit by electric stars
No telegraph nor telephone. We’d all linger in the age of stone.
The world could not be run by men who say it can’t be done”
– Druid
Been through rough times – keep your head up!

The poem in the above transcription comes from ‘The Book of Virtues’ by William J. Bennett with one little change.  The last line in the original is as follows: “The world would sleep if things were run By men who say “It can’t be done.”

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below:  When  I researched the source of the message below I discovered that it was from a poem by Rumi.  He was a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic amongst other things but apparently he’s also one of the most widely read poets in North America.

The lines of the poem are translated/shared in slightly different ways including

“Somewhere beyond right and wrong, there is a garden. I will meet you there.”

and

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.”

 

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below: Things aren’t what they seem?  I’m not sure if you noticed it, but someone has added, very faintly, “sometimes it’s a gold pot”.

below: Someone’s commentary on the world today.

“Teens fight but don’t know what 4.
It’s really sad 2 see them _e.
Teens killed at subway stations,
young innocent girls being stalked by perverted men.
When will it all end,
what will happen 2 us.
What’s Happining 2 The World Today?”

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