A BRIDGE

A BRIDGE 

A bridge over the river

crossing to the other side

back and forth forever

across the churning tide

Ancient, green arms

to oversee metal ants

that crawl and swarm

across its creaking ramps

Back and forth forever

repeating endless rhythms

crossing the muddy river

like motorized spasms

A rusting, outdated giant

with  two narrow ribbons

threading over the current

like old, lazy tendons

Standing tall over the ranks

that hug the shore like fleas

towns hanging on the banks

of this mammoth trapeze

A bridge to cross the river

a link to the other side

two states joined forever

in this never-ending tide

Janice Kuykendall

July 4, 2012