Bridges and Crossroads

WPA bridge over the Neosho I

Stood on it in full flood with my

Dad the water just

Kissing the underside of the boards the

River moans shivering up my legs it stood until a

Flood licked out the

Footings they

Replaced it but when I dream the Neosho the old bridge is there

They took the zinc out until they hit the

Daylight of 3rd street you could

See the crack in the pavement

Looked like another pothole and there was

Sunlight in the mine

Sunlight just there with the

Dull ache of lead and the grim

Scowl of jack

Those cottonmouths know some songs too they

Know some fish songs and once crossing Tar Creek

Bridge a grandma snake got hit by a

Pickup and in her last breaths we

Drove up on her there like a burning

Library her songs falling away in curls

Taken by updrafts like smoke prayers near the water she

Looked me in the heart and whispered just the one secret