Pie-eyed with pleasure
City’s splendour resounding
Yet blind to the dust
Pie-eyed with pleasure
City’s splendour resounding
Yet blind to the dust
(On a recent week-end trip to Ottawa, what struck me the most and reflected in this post, was the invisible dust of beggars on every street we walked. A sad sight to see while pleasure seekers ignored their humanity.)
Stuff and what if... 
I think sometimes people become immune to them. Living in NY it becomes part of the scenery. There are still many who feel for each one,
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Yes, immune to suffering. Part of big city life. It was the first time that I have experienced this, so it was very saddening for me. 😦
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Oh wow! Not much experience in a big city then! In NY a lot of the bums join in the city life and can be very entertaining. They usually end up with a lot of donations that way as well. Of course, those are the ones not dealing with mental illnesses…or at least not noticeably so.
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I lived in Toronto for 10 years in my 20’s, but rarely saw displays of street poverty. It was a different time. I can just imagine NY street people. We did see one saxophonist playing for money. He was very talented. 🙂
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Oh yes, tons of street musicians. Everyone’s got something going on there, with their feet in ten different pies trying to make ends meet and while trying to support their art and not working a full time job.
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Sounds wonderful! You could have written a poem about “pies and dust.” Ha ha!
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Hey Marissa. I think I’ve been thrown into your spam dungeon. Made a comment on you last post and it disappeared. Can you fish me out please. 🙂
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Oh yikes! I just fished you out. Must be happening to you a lot! Hopefully the comment will turn back up too. Thanks for letting me know!
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It is happening a lot. Sad! Thanks for fishing me out! 🙂
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No problem!
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So sad, but so true! I think it can become easy for some to become immune to the suffering and even be judgemental about the situation and develop disdain.
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Yes. I experienced it with fresh eyes and the scene was worrying that in a country like Canada, this was so excessively obvious on the streets. The disparity was alarming!
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It’s similar in many places here in the States as well. It is very alarming!
It’s lovely to meet you, Olga. I look forward to reading.
Kay
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Thanks, Kay. Lovely to meet you also. 🙂
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Sad to hear that Ottawa has become
as you describe…sounds like Toronto. Your haiku and images are fantastic …I was intrigued by the first one…I assumed it was one of your creations at home but now wonder if it is based on a place in Ottawa?
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That first image comes from a photo that I took in the lobby of a fancy hotel. My daughter and I had just gotten off the Rideau Canal cruise, missed a taxi and were hungry. We decided to treat ourselves on our last night there. It’s interesting that a comment was made that our attire was appropriate to be let in. Ottawa was full of unusual experiences.
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I hope their food was appropriate 😉 you created great images with your lobby shots. I always find the question of street people troubling… I guess it is as many other problems: difficult to solve, yet easier to discuss (privilege guilt).
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Actually, the kitchen had run out of baked potato and asparagus, so I substituted caesar salad. I had to send it back because it was horrible. So all I had on my plate was a hunk of meat. I should have taken a photo of that. Ha ha! Concerning street people, I agree. Privilege guilt is an apt term. Supposedly Lethbridge, Alberta has found a solution to homelessness in their city.
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Too bad about the food…I think I’ve heard about Lethbridge…stopping homelessness is an excellent project.
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Wonderful haiku and great connections through to the images Olga
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Thank-you, Denis. I tried to present each line with a powerful image. After my trip, Ron’s prompt word just fell into my lap.
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These pictures are great, Olga! Love the poem very mucy too.
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Many thanks, Mary. Good to hear from you.
If you wouldn’t mind checking your spam folder because I made a comment on your last post and it disappeared. I’ve been having problems with WP for a few months.
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Sure, I’ll check. Btw, I loved your poem very “much,” not “mucy” hahaha!
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🙂
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Hello Olga, your haiku is meaningful and touching. I loved it. The pictures told the same story––brilliant.
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Thank-you, Vashti. I tried a new technique and I’m glad it worked. Ottawa was an eye-opener.
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Truly stunning — so few words saying so much when composed with the photographs. Excellent!
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Happy that you enjoyed my post. Thanks for the lovely comment, Lindy 🙂
When being a tourist in a spectacular city like Ottawa, it’s hard not to feel for those who display the face of poverty. 😦
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Hi Lindy. I sent a comment to you on the last post and it disappeared into your spam folder. Could you check please. I’ve been having problems with WP for a long time. Thanks! 🙂
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That fellow just makes me feel sad. It’s really sad that people should end up this way and almost hopeless.
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I felt the same way and could not leave him as a memory. I felt impelled in the moment to take a photo of him. Thank-you for the comment, Jacqueline.
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It’s a pleasure.
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🙂
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This was beautiful. The pictures added more meaning to it and completed with the compliment. 🙂
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Thank-you for the wonderful comment, Prakash. Ottawa is a beautiful city, but the dark side was disturbing to see.
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My pleasure!
ohh!
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🙂
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Such a meaningful, thought-provoking haiku. Superb use of the prompt words!
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Thank-you, Magarisa. I loved my trip to Ottawa, but it brought sadness to my heart also. Unexpected inspiration for this post. 🙂
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Yes, it’s sad to see people being neglected.
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So true!
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