London and Paris, a comparison

So different, yes, and ‘Vive la diffé rence!’

London is many different towns, not one

Paris is more homogeneous, more since

Baron Haussmann tore up the town, convinced

That diseases and revolutions would

Be brought to an end. And then London sensed

It needed a similar boulevard

So creating The Mall. Though The Blitz scarred

The face of London, the money was gone

At war’s end, so no grand redesign, hence

London remains chaotic, rather hard

To drive round, a maze, a chameleon,

While Paris has straight lines and elegance

I feel there haven't been enough architecture-related sonnetry on here lately, so I'm rectifying that shortage. For those of you who wish to debate the thesis contained within, and also read your own architectural villanelles, sonnets and haikus, there is a meeting in the phone booth outside Manchester Town Hall next Wednesday at 7pm.