Padlocks

Thousands of padlocks hanging on bridges throughout the world

Every one a person

Every one a hope or reason

Love and death

Who knows the reasons

Started with love

Good way to start

Through the years

Times change

Now they symbolise death

Breakups

Hope

Keys at the bottom of the sea

Waiting to be reunited

With the wandering souls

Who walk back onto the bridge, and insert the key to eternal freedom…

Reviews

[...]

I don't know if you know but at the Prague there is one bridge like this. But it's actually very small with lot of padlocks hang on around. It's actually have meaning of freedom some crazy artist make this like honour of velvet revolution. Anyway Your poem is more personal and go deep into human relations and doubts. How wonderful must be cross that bridge and still feel alive. Only my thoughts.

[Paul Bell]

Yeah, the padlocks really took off around the world. Though I do hear the bureaucrats tend to have them removed.

[...]

Well I guess that's maybe truth. Cause current Czech government is bunch of whackos .

[Dave Brown]

A history lesson
Had never heard of this before (no surprise)
the human relationship business is certainly a complicated issue and if this helps, then why not
Wonder if they are all 6' apart at present

[Paul Bell]

Love the 2 metres apart outside the shops, soon as you're in it's a free for all.

[Einstein Noodle]

is that a custom?? if not it should be ... put the lock on the bridge .. toss the key ... symbolism of commitment and faithfulness .... how lost we can feel when an end comes ... strong image of searching for that key ... sheesh! wandering souls indeed..i kind of want to put me own lock out there .. just to say i did ;)) Kilroy was here kind of thing ..hmmmmm some of us leap off those bridges too don't we ... not looking for the key .. but maybe finding it .. you tell a lot of story in straight forward language ..i keep thinking of many stories that plug in ... in different ways
E.
E.

[Paul Bell]

Must admit, Einstein, I 've never done it myself, but it's there for the doing. What I do see on bridges a lot now is help lines, which is not a bad thing in the climate we live in.

[Einstein Noodle]

sad reflection of the times ..a ripe climate for depression :( for me ... i go outside and breath ..covid can't take Nature away ... we can venture out with good sense and precaution ... we aren't "locked in" really after all. stay well .. stay safe .. i just read Jamila's review about the Pont Neuf ... so much to learn eh!? going a-googlin' now ... oh those French right?! :)

[Paul Bell]

It's the French language for me, say no more.

[Einstein Noodle]

:) ....................

[.]

Yes, this is the Pont Neuf in Paris, you speak of, before reckless bureaucracy decided to remove all the padlocks and thus the memories of life, love and death for many couples the world over. Whatever the journey of one who hangs a padlock, its symbol should endure for its meaning in the moment, but alas, while the keys may lie at the bottom of the Seine, the 'hearts' to which they unlock are no longer present. A sadness all its own. Such a truthful write, dear Paul. Much enjoyed, this one! :))

[Paul Bell]

Bloody bureaucrats, if ever a lot should be at the bottom of the river it's them.

[Einstein Noodle]

I read that 40 tons of locks were removed .. safety concerns about all that weight on the oldest bridge in France ... they may allow them back once the bridge is fortified and updated... how cool! :)

[Paul Bell]

You know that will never happen.

[.]

It sure won't! :))

[Einstein Noodle]

i bet they will have to post guards to keep people from it .. its such a great, romantic idea ..

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Death, breakups, padlocked hearts lost at sea....maybe they are all stuck in Atlantis...
and someone has to have the key to the city to free them all.
Maybe love is the key and we just haven't figured that out yet.
j.

[Paul Bell]

Yeah, love has always been difficult to figure out. Just when you think you've cracked it, you realise you were no way near. Maybe that is the key.