Come Celebrate Ravine Days with the City of Toronto!
This series of events, hosted by Toronto Parks & Forestry, takes place from October 2-11, 2021. You can learn about the City of Toronto’s beautiful ravine system, environmentally significant areas and their biodiversity. And it will include self-directed activities, virtual and in-person events, offering something for everyone to enjoy. Learn more at toronto.ca/ravines. #RavinesTO
As Toronto’s Poet Laureate, I will be providing a “Haiku-a-day” to celebrate Toronto’s ravines.
The best place to find these as the event is ongoing is via Toronto Parks and Forestry’s social media channels:
Twitter: @TorontoPFR or @TOTrees | Instagram: @TorontoPFR | Facebook: @TorontoPFR
Here are the Haiku as they appear on Twitter, daily:
October 2, 2021
To celebrate Ravine Days, we're sharing a daily poem about #RavinesTO written by Toronto's Poet Laureate.
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 2, 2021
Alone But Never Lonely
Homage to Murray McLauchlan, “Down by the Henry Moore”
Ravine. Woods. No one.
Singing old songs. Eternal
Magic. Why write more?
~ A. F. Moritz pic.twitter.com/6zqKixQ5DC
October 3, 2021
Moore Park Ravine and Mount Pleasant Cemetery
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 3, 2021
Haiku
The ravine flows to,
From, rapt graves and their garden:
Presents of the dead.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/KxlyY8JRF7
October 4, 2021
Sherwood Park and Burke Brook Ravine
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 4, 2021
Haiku
A calm infant owl
looked in my eyes from a near
branch: I had a friend.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/kTyAb3gpRv
October 5, 2021
Ravine That Is Not, Along a Buried Stream
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 5, 2021
Haiku
Taddle Creek, ghost, say:
Can pure legend and memory
Serve us as water?
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/PlxIIWGmVQ
October 6, 2021
Morningside Park West
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 6, 2021
Tanka
Just tell your story.
Who cares what it means? The path
is littered red-gold.
Two mated stones lie far, deep
In shade. High vistas wed you.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/f9YICNlfgV
October 7, 2021
Evergreen Brick Works, Weston Quarry Garden, Sun Valley, Beltline Trail, Lower Don Trail
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 7, 2021
Haiku
Here is my quarry:
Deep garden I hunt for, human
Rebirthed from ruin.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/i3CV2aTscI
October 8, 2021
Crossing Place and Teiaiagon Village: Humber Valley at Baby Point
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 8, 2021
Three Haiku
Mishupeshu, great
panther-dragon of our waters,
this image, is it yours:
1/2#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/Z3zlMXwTHN
October 9, 2021
Riverdale Farm and Wetland Ponds, Lower Don Valley
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 9, 2021
Tanka
Nothing is true that
did not and is not taking you
a long part of your life.
How often you’ve walked these trails,
Continuing, starting anew.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/AXewkgNTAw
October 10, 2021
Glen Stewart Ravine
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 10, 2021
Haiku
Autumn. Soft yellow
paws—witch hazel leaves. Peaceful,
crimson claws—red oaks.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/tXHpUyXJXK
October 11, 2021
Bellamy Ravine Creek, Doris McCarthy Trail, Ontario Shore
— Toronto Forestry (@TOtrees) October 11, 2021
Homage to Doris McCarthy, “Passage”
Haiku
How many times we,
Joining you in death-and-life,
Pass your passage here.
~ A. F. Moritz, Poet Laureate, City of Toronto#RavinesTO pic.twitter.com/F0y755RAAB