Words, words, words. People write them. People read them (or ignore them!). And some people take pictures of them and blog them.
below: Let’s start with the encouraging words such as this one: “Be you not them!” I don’t know who is behind the #happytoronto campaign but if you search for that hashtag on instagram, you’ll discover that they wrote a number of positive messages on Toronto sidewalks.
below: Another hashtag, another set of words.
below: Time and weather and peeling paint have erased some of this message but “still believe” is still there and hanging on.
below: Like most facets of life, there’s always the negative ones.
But who knows, maybe he speaks the truth?
below: “I’ve always known it was you”
Ambiguous words: A declaration of love? An accusation of a crime?
below: Danger due to construction workers ONLY. Definitely no other dangers here!
below: “Eat right, exercize, die anyways”. A touch of reality or cynicism. The interpretation is in the eye of the beholder so to speak.
below: How to open this door. At first glance, what silliness.
below: “If not now, then when?”
Playing visually with written words.
below: Chinese characters on a yellow wall. I have no idea what it says and I’m not sure if google can help me translate. Post no bills? No parking? Both doubtful… I think! They are written on a mural on Gerrard East (Chinatown East) that was only a few days old.
below: “Go perfect into peace”. Wonderful sentiment. The grammar is iffy ( a direct translation from Chinese into English? 去完善纳入和平) but I like the succinctness of the message.
below: And last, I am going to include the words from this mural because it is now adjacent to a construction site and who knows how long its going to remain visible.
below: From the mural above, a quote from the novel ‘Tom Jones’ by Henry Fielding written, appropriately, on the wall of the Tom Jones restaurant. I’ve included the transcription below the photo.
[…] these laws my readers patrons whom I consider as my subjects, are bound to believe and to obey; with which that they may readily and cheerfully comply, I do hearby assure them that I shall principally regard their ease and advantage in all such institutions; for I do NOT, like a jure divino tyrant, imagine that they are my slaves or my commodity; I am , indeed, set over them for their own good only, and was created for their use and not they for mine. Nor do I doubt, while I make their interest the great rule of my writings doings, they will unanimously concur in supporting my dignity and in rendering me all the honour I shall deserve or desire (II,i)
from the novel Tom Jones by Henry Fielding.”
as I walk Toronto 