Aga Khan Park’s Vibrant 2020 Autumn Colours

By MALIK MERCHANT
Publisher/Editor Simergphotos, Simerg and Barakah

Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.

In a little less than 7-10 days, the rich colours of the maple trees you see in the photos below, will be no more at the beautiful Aga Khan Park in Toronto. Heaps and heaps of leaves will fall to the ground, leaving tress bare until next spring! Nature brings joy to one’s heart, and the Aga Khan Park offers a beautiful space for one to reflect about the night sky, the rising and setting of the sun and the full moon as well as the crescent moon, to listen to the singing of the birds, to see beautiful rabbits running right in front of you, and occasionally see a larger animal such as the raccoon. My visit to the Aga Khan Park on October 20, 2020 was inspired by a poem I received from Karim H. Karim of Carleton University. It is dedicated to everyone who is feeling sad. I post it below, and it is followed by a small collection of photos that I took after reading the piece.

Let Storms Beware

By KARIM H. KARIM
(Dedicated to all who are sad)

Sweetest are the songs
That we sing in sorrows;
Tears swell in our eyes
Even when joy overflows.

Naïve folk fear the thorns
Where flowers do flourish,
Fresh with hues of hope.

Dawn’s light is nearest
When sadness is darkest,
Sings the black night
In stars’ silent twinkle.

Embrace the aching pain,
Learn to laugh a little
And to comfort others.

Let storms beware
That we are lighting
The lamps of love.

(The piece is based sed on Shankardas Shailendra’s (1923-1966) “Hain Sabse Madhur Wo Geet,” which evokes Percy Shelley’s (1792-1822) line “Our sweetest songs are those that tell of the saddest thought.”)

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Autumn at Toronto’s Aga Khan Park

Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. In foreground is the famous Big Heech Sculpture located by the North end of the Aga Khan Museum Building. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
The flag of the Ismaili Imamat by maple trees peaking autumn colours. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
A gorgeous view of the dome of the Ismaili Jamatkhana, with rich autumn colours at the Aga Khan Park adding to the beauty of entire area. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Signs of autumn and winter! Trees shedding leaves, and ponds are empty of water. Aga Khan Museum in background, open Thursdays thru Sundays. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park (Ismaili Centre at right, not shown) reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. See next photo for view from other end. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020, with the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome seen at left. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
A close up of the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome with a maple tree rich in autumn colours in the foreground. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. From left to right, flags of the Ismaili Imamat, the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario and Canada, with its famous Maple Leaf. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Evergreen Brick Works located in the Don River Valley
A view of CN Tower from lookout point at the Evergreen Brick Works located in the Don River Valley on 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, a 10 minute drive from the Aga Khan Park. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.
Aga Khan Park Toronto, autumn 2020
Red maple trees at Aga Khan Park reach peak colours during the autumn of 2020. A view from the Aga Khan Museum parking lot of the Ismaili Jamatkhana dome. Photo: © Malik Merchant / Simerg.

Date posted: October 21, 2020.
Last updated: October 22, 2020.

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