Lucknow

Another dawn at Awadh–
Take it in, as much as you can
Enjoy this beautiful evening
Because all the nymphs and angles
Dance around and turn the sky pink
There is cupid himself sitting at the banks of gomti
Lucknow was made for lovers
"Lover's city" I'd like to call it.
Maybe cupid was born here
Somewhere deep in the lover's lane
Oh the young love!
Don't underestimate the kisses of 
those beautiful and oh so handsome-
Eros and Phileo in school uniforms.


There you see is a trifle
needing ten seconds
To sort out his rattling brain
Trying to seek comfort 
In the arms of these ebullient
Yet tired out Hazratganj streets – up, down and about.
Yet no ends met today, made some talks to himself about the evening spent
 yet again, felt like faded paints
Of the old buildings
But holding rich remnants of past.


The bazaars. Oh the bazaars.
I don't even know where to start
The most appropriate synonym of life.
The bazaars of Lucknow will teach you- Life.
Bazaars of Lucknow–
where everyone want to find the one place for themselves
wants to find out The Way 
Till they run out of their last breath.
Bazaars –
where an epoch of crowd strolls past,
Streets –
with no space to anyone's name,
You have to claim your space 
While you should know;
You shouldn't make it a race.
Hustle and bustle with no cause or aim.


My beautiful city is a preacher
Wanting to tell you numerous stories.
The moment you step into Lucknow
It will welcome you -
"Smile! you're in Lucknow"
Smile because here you'll unfolded 
What was a celebration of learning and the arts,
a mingling culture and an unabashed love
for all things beautiful.-
The jasmine-scented courtyards
The slender arches of the imambaras
The sheer poetry of the spoken language
The lilting fragrance of saffron and kewra 
The delicacy of pulao,
The Nawab, adaab and kabaab.
  - Shreshtha