The Arches….
I dredged up another oldie for this week’s Poetry Thursday prompt: ‘Rivers’
That day we floated down the brownish river
in a makeshift ship, a construction site derelict
stolen in the half light of dusk.
We were maybe twelve in wet blue jeans and tee shirts
rolled at the sleeves according to local custom
in those placid fifties.
The tainted shallow water was no hindrance that warm August day;
to us it was just cool in the heat.
The tall dark bridge seen through the downstream haze
looked imposing from where we sat. Its high shadowed arches
rising ominously to the clouds.
Our progress slowed in the shallows by dragging the old mortar box
over the mud and rocks, stopping occasionally to chase the Crayfish
from their hiding places that summer on the river called “Bronx”.
Looking ahead now to that bridge, fearing to go under it
lest some strange thing come from the shadows
of its tall arches looming ahead, so close now portending doom.
Yet we push on slowly, determined to make memories
of our young fear not realizing we would never make it that far.
1993-2006
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When I got here, my first thoughts were, "whata beautiful page!" I like the torn page with the side indexing. That is what I kept looking at for long. Reading the poem was an afterthought..It took me on a journey along with you. Thanks for the glimpse.I will be back for more.
Fears of the young and older, different yet the same. Nostalgic
Thank you, gautami. I'm glad you like the new theme, and I hope your journey was a pleasant one.
Tammy,
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself"
(was that from Winston Churchill?)
I actually made that trip with a buddy of mine. We did turn back from that bridge. It was a little scary.
Thanks
This poem made me smile and remember floating on my back in the ditch behind the house. It was the only water around–muddy brown.
Cynthia,
I just found a picture of the Bronx River on the net and it is still, indeed brown. How we swam and played in that water and survived I'll never know. Thank you all for stopping by.
Nice images, I got the sense of apprehension for the unspoken future. Thanks.
Hi Ron! I really like the feeling in this — the sense of adventure and a makeshift ship. I felt like I was on that ship too and could see all the details. You really captured that sense of being 12 years old and so curious, yet scared, about the world. I love this poem. And I still feel like a 12 year old kid in this big world!
I like the image of the bridge looming and the other unspoken fears it represents. I like your longer lines, they particularly suit the theme and tone of the poem.
I like the image of the bridge looming and the other unspoken fears it represents. I like your longer lines, they particularly suit the theme and tone of the poem.