Not Katherine Anne Paterson’s Bridge
to Terabithia,
the one that Leslie and Jess cross
to get to their magic kingdom.
Nor that bridge too far.
Not the one Over Troubled Waters.
Nor that terrible one on the River Kwai.
Not even the bridges you burn
so there’s no turning back
but that rope suspension bridge
dangling high over the gully
that me and my faithful mutt, Salem,
can’t bring ourselves to cross
photo by Andre Amaral on Unsplash.com
John Malone 
Woah!
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you see what I mean, Beth; it’s one hell of a bridge and it shakes from side to side
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Don’t think I could do it either
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I’m terrified of heights. I side with you and Salem. 🙂
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I think fear of heights is up there with all the great fears: though my daughter to overcome her fear sky jumped for her 21st 🙂
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Your daughter is like my brothers. They do everything they can to test and eradicate their fears. I didn’t get that gene. I hate the pump of adrenaline. 🙂
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Lol 🙂 oh Worms, that comment is priceless 🙂
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I also am terrified of heights, and also get vertigo looking down. So I too will stand on the sidelines.
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wise choice; sky diving is not for me —
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I wouldn’t even consider it!!!
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a bit like Salem — and his master 🙂
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Right!
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Wow. That’s one heck of a bridge. I’d be both excited and terrified at the thought of crossing it.
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I can’t help thinking what you would have made of this topic; the poem would have been way different 🙂
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I’ve never written on a prompt. But if I do one about bridges, I’ll definitely let you know.
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Steep bridges always remind me of the petting zoo/wildlife retreat where I went as a kid. There was an indoors plank bridge crossing and straw below in case you fell. I was always a little surprised and suspicious at the straw. It’s like, What do you THINK is going to happen here….?
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🙂 I like it when a post stirs up memories like this, ones from childhood invested with all its wonder and anxiety —
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Hi John, I’ve crossed such a bridge as a kid when I was fearless and didn’t know better. It was in Ausable Chasm, NY.
Scary, but fun anyway! 😀
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well done; as kids we can be fearless because we know no better; but would you do it now?
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I’m not sure, heights creep me out. The bridge swayed back and forth if I recall, and you could see through the floor boards to the rapids below.
What made me do it? School trip filled with grade 6 students. I’m sure some were scared , but peer pressure is so tough at that age.
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you’re right, Eden: peer pressure is strong at that age: why I began smoking and listening to rock ‘n’ roll, though I didn’t need much encouragement there; and as for crossing those rickety bridges, once you look down, forget it 🙂
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My fearless days ended at 15 when I just missed crashing in a boat race twice. Heights have bothered me since about the age of 3 months. That bridge can’ t be far enough from me.
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that’s the trouble” we’re all fearless when we believe the world is a safe place but once it opens its maw and shows its jagged teeth , we withdraw —
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Oh, so many memorable bridges. Crossed in their time, maybe? Made me think of The occurence on Owl Creek Bridge, the three billy goats that cleverly crossed the bridge despite the troll, and the way that poetry bridges the everyday with the eternal. Enjoyed, John.
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thanks for those references, K; esp enjoyed that magical metaphor of poetry being a bridge 🙂
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Well, at least it is for me. My favorite bridge, and it also swings freely in the wind. 😉 Thanks for inspiring me.
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Just looking at the photo set my dental bridge chattering!
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Lol 🙂
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Those bridges are so scary. They make you wish that you could just lie down and cry. I’m afraid of heights and each step would make me think I’m plummeting to my death.
Love how you shape your words around it, John. 🙂
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thanks Terveen; I assembled bridge references that meant something to me culturally: there’s only one I missed but I’ve included it in my rewrite: Under the Bridge by the Red Hot Chillis, with the drug reference which injects the song with menace and desperation —
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“Not even the bridges you burn
so there’s no turning back”
I found this the most powerful and relatable. 🙂
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yes, we all have bridges we need to burn; I know a few desperately sad cases who need to burn their bridges NOW !
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That bridge looks like an adventure. It offers the thrill of crossing, and the entrance to the dark unknown on the other side. The other side would draw me right in.
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you certainly could make a story out of this; it’s a good idea: someone might snap it up 🙂
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Love how you build up a tension. Are we going to cross or not. Then in the last lines you keep us safe.
Three steps on the ladder I start to shiver even if I did a skydive when I was 18. I came down but my dinner came up. 😀
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Lol; oh Ulle, that is a wonderful story; thank you 🙂 love that brilliant last line 🙂
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Some bridges you wish you could burn…this one tops the list!
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