The Bridge of Canterbury
That bridge hanging precariously
Across the threatening gulf
Was the only escape to mortality
For we were safe then
Playing in the litter under it
Without the pretense of being
What others expected us to be
Living at the bottom of the social scale
Top and brimming with humanity
Innocense ... joy ... trust
Screening those
With polite smile
And eyes shadowed by fear
Or something more toxic to us
The scorn we wore
Poorly clad
in the rags of their appreciation
That we were children
Fallen through the holes and cracks
In their gift of a poor world
Innocent of decadent boundaries ... and yet
Brimming like a fountain with promises
Springing lilac blossoms in our dreams
... Another bridge
Different and precarious to cross
Because of all the rules and boundaries
Tha anxiety laden with false histories
The violated truth of memories
This bridge like hope
Thrown across a precipice deluged with floods
Our feet on the tight rope
Burning with desire
I remember us screaming against belief
To rinse the world with joy
Playing under rusted truss and pitted wood
Where the concrete flaked its crust
Posing a danger we never understood.
Yet so much, ponderous with the weight
Of all we became, almost unexpectantly, got across
Where we stretched our souls
So the world could survive ... leeching us still.
Copyright © L'Nass Shango | Year Posted 2009
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