Covered Bridge, Contest Entry

Covered bridge contest hosted by craig cornish Father's grave was across the covered bridge. The river was cold, white, rushing. It roared on the broken stones, as the mare stepped onto the planks pulling her dark carriage on its black wheels. Her iron shoes fell, dancing. Shade covered the wreath of lillies. Unable to hold on to the thick petals, their strong fragrance/ slipped away in the mist of the river. Perhaps she could have stopped so it could find its way back, but the mare continued on the covered bridge. The old wood moaned, and bent, under the weight of the carriage,/ startling a barn owl from its nest beneath the span. It perched in a tree, clutching a firm branch, its white face looking at the coffin. I thought it asked a question, but the mare gave no reply as she crossed the covered bridge. Her great head nodded with each step toward the plot, and sunlight poured over her as she touched the edge of the grass./ August 26, 2017