Haikus of Homelessness: Leslieville

As many of you know by now, I'm spending the month of June as a drifter; couch-surfing until I move into my new apartment on July 1.

As someone who craves stability and routine, it's unnerving to move my office and my life on a regular basis. But it does have one benefit: in less than three weeks, I've managed to explore neighbourhoods of Toronto that I've barely considered before.

First, I stayed with Sarah in Leslieville. Afterwards, I spent a couple of days sleeping at Brie's place at Yonge & Eglinton. Currently, I'm staying with Court in the Annex and on Friday I'll move to Kensington. (Only 26 days remain until I can return to my beloved West Queen West.)

I've been trying to figure out a way to succinctly articulate this experience. Although my go-to has always been rhyming couplets, I've since determined that there's no better way to write about Toronto's neighbourhoods than through haikus. Here's the first in the series:

Three Haikus for Leslieville

Tree-lined streets are nice

I could learn to love it here

If I was 40.

Dads pushing strollers

Abundant monogamy

I cannot live here.

So many cute dogs

Parkdale bias is too strong

Where are the homeless?