Bridge by Winter Leaps


Bridge by winter leaps from side to side,
the banks but white lace of ice
and small dips made by days warm then cold again,
freezing, freezing forever to take
their solemn molds so temporary than collapse
to rolling sparkling puddles thin.

Bridge by winter leaps from side to side,
the elementary children cuddle over
inside thick red and black coats hooded
to keep out the knife wind that carries upstream
and onto the other side where they walk
to warm houses awaiting them in afternoon.

Bridge by winter leaps from side to side,
like a red pendulum which seeks the sun
to carry its own song of import against the tangle
of limb and great gobbed blocks of limestone
set along the shoreline to keep the simmering in
and the crystal water from running the streets.