Lovelocks Bridge Poem by Padmanabhan Ananth

Walking from The Louvre to Musée d' Orsay
In Paris, winter afternoon of a relaxed Sunday
When I decided to spend the day on arts
Fancied as I took a journey of 'love locks'!

Over River Seine, that majestically flowed
Pont de l'Archeveche* so serenely stood
Built a quarter after start of 19th century
Proudly linking the left bank to Île de la Cité

Narrow bridge welcomed loving pedestrians
From the city to where all art remains
Under cloudy sky, the painted fences glowed
On the fences were love locks a thousand

In the shadow of this old French span
Gene Kelly danced with Leslie Caron
In 'An American in Paris', the 50s musical
Memorable love waltz of the epic couple

Fascinated I was by sheer number-n-variety
Padlocks many from every known country
Brass, steel, branded, polished, painted
Each had names of a boy-n-girl printed

To these love padlocks, no long history
Just a romantic expression of lovers, truly
They'd meet on bridge, on lock engrave names
They'd hug, kiss and in river below drop keys

They would also take back home a key
As a souvenir over bridge of their intimacy
In the City of Love, great way to express passion
Naïve padlock truly turns article of adulation!
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*Archbishop Bridge