The term.."Paths of Desire"... was apparently first used in New York because people were not following the designated paths designed by the urban architects for Central Park. You know those short cuts we take in life when getting to our bus requires a diversion from the proper way!
"Keep off the grass", the sign said
a good sign as signs go
well painted interesting font oh
I do love an unusual font
oxford or japanese, art deco or noveau
I'll stop and take some pics
at a notice board for the font
and the colours if dramatic too
purple on yellow, french navy on white
red lettering on a black backround
fanciful
*
The morning was warm enough for
September though the calender informed
November was already halfway through
and autumn leaves were thick
on the ground around each tree
tarmac paths leaf-slimed were
making the way treacherous
careful there I told myself no
slipping, broken bones or trauma
"sufficient unto the day"..
and all that.
*
I slowed my pace and placed
my booted feet as carefully as
any tangoed dancer but
time was short and bus drivers
wait for no woman or man
some further action necessary
if desk and typewriter waiting
in a warm office were to find
a place for my frozen knees
bliss
*
Ever the obedient daughter
timid friend invisible worker I
stepped out of my role as
law abiding citizen and
good girl
left the slimey black of tarmac
technically designed in the
glossy tenth floor office of an
architects room for minions to follow
abandoned path and stepped on
to the frosty grass
and oh! what delight as
my booted prints pressed their shape
on to the way to the bus stop,
forever.
*
I hear that rather than being designed in New York...Central Park was a copy of the beautiful park in Birkenhead opened long before any New Yorkers trod the tacmac paths of Central Park.
There's a great fact.
