Harinder’s evocative poem takes us on a poignant journey through the centre of a city whose contradictions choke it, exclusively for Different Truths.

A city of concrete jungle covered with smog,
Where apathy is the attitude and people
Are as dead as the log.
A city where I yearn to see the clear blue sky,
The air space is usurped by the flying machines,  
Once, the birds used to fly
A city of fast lanes
A city of metro trains
A city of fake profiles
A city of plastic smiles
A city of people, corrupt
Unethical and morally bankrupt 
A city with tales of crime
A city that has no time
To care, share, or live in brotherhood.
A city that needs to learn a lesson from a
Village about the things, good
A city that never sleeps
Everywhere, one finds huge garbage heaps
A city unsafe for women
A city where the calm of the night is
Disturbed by the noise often
A city with amenities many but no peace
In a city where water is also available for some fees,
A city of contrasts
Of the rich in pubs and hotels,
Also, the struggling middle-class
A city that is not ashamed of its slums
A city with a cold heart and a body numb
A city which burns in the heat and gets clogged in the rain
A city that needs psychiatrists to keep the people sane
This is the tale of my crying city.
The rogues who ravaged it plundered its natural beauty.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Harinder Cheema

Harinder Cheema is a renowned poetess and an internationally published author. Her novel, ‘The Temple Stop’ received ‘The Best Book of the Year Award 2020’ by Aghaaz, Author in You. She is the co-author of 17 poetry anthologies. Her short stories have been published in the coffee table books. Her articles have been published in various international magazines, and she has also received many prestigious honours and awards in the field of literature.