Love Poem: Delhi
Manya  Saxena Avatar
Written by: Manya Saxena

Delhi

19 million people, waking up in the morning,
going about their lives, from one corner to 
another, jumping on one route and reaching
another. Delhi, you beautiful beautiful city, 
I hear you carry, within, a soul so old that 
you age with time. Oh Delhi, you beautiful
mistake. 

19 million people, 573 sq. mi long city, 
so many lives, so many dreams. Delhi, you
infuriating mess. Ask anyone they'll have a
story to tell, of a time not known to you, a 
time not understood by me but a thousand 
people willing to stop and listen along with 
their daily cup of tea. 

Everyone in here experiences this city in a
way that quite differently do align, and they 
are definitely unconnected to mine. Mine 
starts with a gate, number 7 it seems,
a chamber block with III written on it and a
floor to see what is unseen. Oh Delhi,
you are so full of mysteries. 

On the 7th floor fire exit, you can see the 
glory of this city in one place. If you look at
the expanse, I swear you can fly. From the 
magnificence that is the Raisina Hill, running 
along the Parliament and the tricolored 
beauty of India gate. Hold on, wait for a 
moment. Absorb the lights, the Grandeur
and move one. 

The chilly breeze, often takes you with it to 
the never ending work in progress that is 
Pragati Maidan which literally translates 
to “progress grounds” and to the ruins of 
the Old fort, which once was the residence 
of the huge empire, resonates the losses 
and the gains.

The 7th floor fire exit captures the beauty 
that is Delhi, but it also takes you on a 
journey to the gems lost in time. If you look
around, you'll see the Jawaharlal Nehru 
Stadium, sitting on the high chair, looking 
down at the city. If you go a little further, 
you'll find the Lotus temple.

Right there, just there, stop and think. Look
beyond the temple and you'll find yourself.
You'll see where you've reached and the
place where you started from. Delhi, you are 
the reason for my suffering and the reason 
for my contentment.

There are 19 million people in this city and
the 7th floor, Chamber block III is my place
of solace.