scribbler
Jan 12, 2011

BRIDGES

I go now to repair a bridge
it serves the road which runs the ridge.
Just a few boards need replacing
on the floor and in the bracing.

I'll do it while the branch is shallow
now when the far-side field is fallow.
My old truck will take me there,
I won't get stuck if I take care.

The land is rugged on this side
on the other, flat and wide
where crops grow in deep dark soil
thus making this bridge worth the toil.

The near side grows both game and mast;
for crops the hill sides drop too fast.
The soil's thin and full of rocks
from fist-sized to looming blocks.

The branch divides such disparate land
that is joined by this old span
so its repair I never shirk.
All bridges are worth some work.

About This Poem

Last Few Words: there are many types bridges...............scribbler

Style/Type: Structured: Western

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - draft

About the Author

Region, Country: South Carolina, United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Frost

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More from this author

Comments

S

lol most trolls are much better looking..............................scribbler

Victorclaude

Reminds me of the bridges in the Smoky Mountains. The bridge crews were always replacing boards 6x12s with ten inch nails. I think that they have all been replaced with concrete now. Saves on wood, but not as aesthetic.

S

I meant this to be more about the joining of 2 different pieces of land ( people ) and the work ( repair ) needed to maintain the bridge( relations ). Guess the hidden meaning was too well hidden lol................scribbler

Tam the Chanter

I liked this a lot. As one who was brought up in Fife, in Scotland, I was aware of being connected to the capital, Edinburgh, by the most beautiful bridge in the world, the Forth railway bridge. Its 130 years old and good for another century at least.
It has been calculated that if all the rivets were taken out of the bridge and laid in a line from New York heading due West--------------------------------- The bridge would collapse and the trains would land in the river !! lol

S

I heard that if every female politician were laid end to end............it would be no big surprise lol. I am glad you liked this little attempt...............scribbler

R

raj

14 years 3 months ago

what a lovely write full of live imagery with a wonderfull message ..."a strong bridge is worth some work"...

it is coincidental that only yesterday through the influences of some sub-conscious forces ..may be because of the things happening around us in our world ..i spilled out these words..." It is easier to raise fences than build bridges"...

warmly..

S

this was actually my response to the poem that states good fences make good neighbors. Always good to have you drop by.................stan

S

always good to hear from you whether early or late. Try not to work too hard...................stan

S

Don't worry as my lack of skill has kept all from reading the hidden message. I'll get there some day I hope.................stan

mand

mand

14 years 3 months ago

Briliant rhyming. Don't think I would have figured out the second meaning unless I had read everyones comments ( I'm a bit dull in that department + other department not to be mentioned ). Having the advantage of hind sight I can see the analogy. The poem in both senses is very clever - I love the imagery of the real bridge needing to be repaired joining two landscapes. ( your description is wonderful ) and the underlaying message of
building and repairing relationships. All in all an excellent poem.

Love Mand xxxxxxxx

S

The apparent dullness resides in my pen for being TOO obscure in my dual meaning lol. thanks for coming by.............stan

judyanne

lovely to be back to read your no nonsense works
i like the way this can be many types of bridge - land to land, person to person, person to god....

nothing to crit
love to you
judy

Pixee

Pixee

14 years 1 month ago

I think you have always written well. You have not lost anything in your absence. I like a lot!! Keep up the great writings. I would like to know your pen name you use on the site it has been a while for me on the site also.
I am having to learn some of them over again. Please let me know. Write on poet write on!!

Poetry is the heart of every writer.
by: Pixee

Cheers,

Pixee

S

Thank you for dropping by..............scribbler

Eumolpus

is very Frostian, to coin a word. Clearly a good influence, and you have offered a comfortable read with good lines and rhymes.
When dealing with a theme like bridges, such a big symbolic theme rich in possibilities, I think we need a connection of the symbolism. Here we have a bridge connecting a tame land to a desolate land..that means something...that means a lot! What does that mean to you, the casual bridge fixer who goes there with his old truck hoping it makes the trip. It is there need to put a soul into the poem, like Frost does in all his best poems..the fences, the apple picking, the stop in the woods...Frost makes a short poetic narrative about an event and creates a universal from it. Most important, it comes from Frost, "All bridges are worth some work." is not a charged, intimate statement. My take- dig into it.
Hart Crane made his vision of Brooklyn Bridge the focal point of his life's work. Mirabeau Bridge by Appolinaire, there are so many great bridge poems. You are on to something in this tale. Dig!

S

This is a fairly early scribble of mine but still one of my favorite. But as can be seen by it popping up now, I'm always going back and editing stuff so your well thought out comment is appreciated. I'll put this in my empty head, let it rattle around a bit and see if I can somehow insert a bit more "soul" into this without messing it up

Eumolpus

with a felt message, a poetic message. Very few good poems are ever written without revisions. Glad you could revisit and make this such a fine work!