Home » Poems » L Milton Hankins » New River Gorge Bridge

New River Gorge Bridge

I stand at the edge of a canyon wide Looking out over the tree-lined gorge Two miles at least to the other side Unless one chooses the river to forge, Once was a tedious journey to cross We always planned to take a full day Now, it’s twenty minutes to crisscross Giving us plenty of time in town to play, A structural marvel, a single span bridge A modern-day miracle years in making It flows gracefully from ridge to ridge, I tell you, it is incredibly breath-taking. Written May 26, 2022

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/2/2022 4:18:00 AM

I think this must be one fine bridge "A structural marvel, a single span bridge A modern-day miracle years in making" Wow!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 6/2/2022 9:36:00 AM

Yes. If you ever have the opportunity to come East, I hope you will plan a visit to America's newest national park "The New River Gorge." It is beautiful.

J. Summers

Date: 5/28/2022 12:47:00 PM

I can’t be too far from the bridge living here in East Tennessee. I have a model railroad friend from around there and he built a replica for his layout. Good read and descriptive. John

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/28/2022 12:49:00 PM

Hi J. If you ever have opportunity and time, you should drive up to the newest national park and take a look at the engineering miracle. Thanks!

Thomas Wells

Date: 5/27/2022 10:09:00 AM

This reminds me of the 8 bridges near me, stretching across San Francisco Bay. They are truly engineering miracles and things of beauty. Thank you for the recall! Take care - Thomas

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/27/2022 11:03:00 AM

Thank you, Thomas. I have crossed the Golden Gate Bridge a couple of times. These bridges are simply amazing and so beautiful.

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/27/2022 9:00:00 AM

Sounds an amazing piece of engineering Milton as you say reduces travelling time and joins communities. I know from your previous poems what a beautiful place it is. Tom

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/27/2022 9:19:00 AM

Tom, I was fortunate to be born and raised in one of the prettiest places in the United States. Thanks for your thoughts.

Bill Baker

Date: 5/26/2022 10:31:00 PM

The amazing miracles of engineering! Nice rhyme, Milt. Alt title ... Ode to the Gorge Bridge. Write On! Bill

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/27/2022 5:43:00 AM

Thanks, Bill. It is indeed a miracle of engineering.

Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/26/2022 7:36:00 PM

Good thing that the bridge is not named after 'George' You-Know-Who. Now that's a bridge over troubled water, or so it seems today...

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/27/2022 5:44:00 AM

Bush? I can't think of why it even might have been, gw. Thanks.

Kenneth Cheney

Date: 5/26/2022 3:39:00 PM

It is a breathtaking place Milt. Thanks for writing about it.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/26/2022 6:46:00 PM

Thanks, Kenneth. I was born on the Hico, WV side of it, across the bridge from Fayetteville, WV. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing it built. I would make trips from wherever I happened to be to see the progress. It was amazing!

Jeff Kyser

Date: 5/26/2022 3:17:00 PM

I'd like to see that! Nice descriptive imagery

L Milton Hankins
Date: 5/26/2022 3:21:00 PM

Thanks, Jeff. It is one of the most beautiful places in a beautiful state. The New River, old or older than the Nile, flows north through the state to Gauley Bridge where it joins with the Gauley River to form the Kanawha River. The newest National Park, by the way.