A Poet’s Love Letter to London Participating in an essay competition about London offered me a wealth of possibilities. The challenge was open-ended: essay, short story, or poetry—each path holding its own promise. Though poetry was unfamiliar territory for me, I stepped outside my comfort zone and gave it a try. And oh, what a journey it became! Diving deep into the essence of London, I explored its countless nicknames—The Big Smoke, The Great Wen, LDN— each steeped in history, each telling its own story. From universities that embody centuries of learning, to parks that are serene havens amidst the bustling city, to the myriad libraries, street art, and museums that fuel endless inspiration, London’s energy pulled me in. My verses spilled out like a love letter to the city: his chances, his quirks, his summer heat that melts the heart. The charm of his Tube, his food markets, and even the audacious glamour of his luxury restaurants and stylish bars—the poetry practically wrote itself. Though writing poetry was a dare, it became a labour of love—a celebration of London’s boundless energy and diversity. In the end, the experience became its own reward, a promise of joy in venturing into the unknown and finding stories waiting to be told in every corner.I hope for a London free of crimes, fulfilled, and amazing.
I find The Big Smoke, The Great Wen, LDN irresistible for a million of things! His universities. I fancy Oxford and Cambridge, enthroned… Goldsmiths covered with gilt. I am wild about his innumerable parks. I venerate his myriad of libraries. I am captivated by his museums. I esteem his Tube and his buses, even when the driver suddenly announces at night that he ends his journey there. I admire London for his various entrepreneurs. I praise them for their energy, ingenuity and success. I cherish London for his chances and life he affords to people. I am in awe of street artists tagging and drawing walls. I am enchanted by London summer weather. It’s so hot, I’m melting! I consumed with desire for his food places: Camden Market, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Shoreditch; his glamour restaurants, Steakhouse, Seafood, French, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, British, Chinese, German; and outstanding off-centre or with views bars. I would eat all and anything. I would eat like a horse. I would eat like a pig. I celebrate Oxford Street, even more enjoyable in the evening, for his lots of shops. I take pleasure in the Swinging City’s stylists who exhibit their amazing creations. I get a buzz from Bentley cars driving past me. I fall for Where Royalty Lives because the Palace of Westminster and its surroundings. Indescribable beauty. I go for his casinos with games and entertainments. His Cafes and tearooms offering hot chocolates atrociously delicious. His sweets. If London was a prison, I would be his prisoner. I could travel the world and never find another him. I hope for a London free of crimes, fulfilled, and amazing.