































 
 

28 
 

“On the 32C(ulture) of Eglinton” 
 

*** 
Savitri Persaud is currently a master’s student at the Women and 

Gender Studies Institute at the University of Toronto. Her research 
analyzes the intersections between gender, violence, disability, and 

modernity in Guyana.  
 

*** 
Bathurst 

Forest Hill Village 
Posh boutiques litter clean streets 

Bottega Bertalucci, Segal, Tilli Rose 
Chartreuse, saffron, carmine silks 

Of haute couture made for blue eyes alone 
Throngs of spas fester with the privileged 

Bissa, Chakra, Franco’s 
Nip, tuck, pluck sun-scorched skin 

Coloured hands knead white and wrinkled crocodile patches 
Sun ripened apricot mist veils 

The stench of burnt flesh 
Trophy wives in downward dog 

At the Village Yoga 
Not a love handle in sight 

Thank you Forest Hill Institute of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 
Luxury sedans choke narrow streets 

Mercedes, Porsche, Audi 
Gleam as daylight kisses candy cherry paint 

Foiegras tickles and tingles the tongue 
Hoodwinked by prices 

Bistro Grande, Fusian, Il Mulino 
A pinnacle of conspicuous consumption 

 
Eglinton West Station 
The divider of worlds 

On the same stretch of road 



CARIBBEAN QUILT | 2011 

29 
 

 
Oakwood 

Little Jamaica 
West Indian stores marked by vivid tricolours 

Rasta Flex, Trea-Jah Records, Zion’s Rasta 
Green, yellow, red flags billow 

Through the breeze of ground spices and fresh hassar 
Barber and beauty shops crowd corners 

Discount Barber, Just Incredible, Wisdom’s 
Loud gaffin’ and cackles 

Resonate throughout dimly lit streets 
Mary-Jane floats from mouth to mouth 

Nose to nose 
A voyage of bliss to heightened highs 
Mouse-like squeaks of russet fenders 

Clinging to lemons pierce ears 
Kia, Toyota, Hyundai 

Struggle buggies outfitted 
“in dem rims and tings” 
Crisp aroma of Randy’s 
Fills the air of Tuesday 

Dripping brown grease saturates whiteness 
I meant white napkins 

An artery clogs, a pancreas gives out 
Just a toonie away 

 
Scrutinize Toronto’s multicultural mosaic, nay, its bento box 

On the “Better Way” 
City of opportunity 

 
ceteris paribus 

 
 


