Falling

She remembers the
feeling of
falling
falling
falling
down a thousand
feet to the
creek below

The creek bed lie
swirling
swiftly
moving
in the rainy
 windy
afternoon

She could see the
pebbles

smooth
glass
reflections
greeting

Then the bridge
swinging
stilled
silencing
her fears

She trembled as
hanging on
she saw him
waiting

The other side
beckoning she
moved forward

She no longer
was falling

© February 2012
Renee Espriu

Years ago now I went on a hiking trip with some friends and my teenage son. The foot bridge across the stream below was closed so we climbed to the top to another way across, a swinging bridge with rope for hand holds and wooden slats that were not very close to one another.  When we arrived it began raining and the wind was strong. My son went straight across but I remained glued to the spot. I don’t do well with heights and I’ve never again went across another swinging bridge. There was only room for one person at a time to walk. Quite an experience.

16 Replies to “Falling”

  1. I can feel the emotions in your poem. We have lots of swinging bridges here. I like them as long as my husband doesn’t rock the bridge He thinks it’s fun

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    1. I know of them but had not encountered one until we came across the bridge that was washed out. So narrow and with the wind blowing and rain…well, it was nearly too much. My son didn’t realize how frightened I was but when I got across and began to cry, he knew. He was so young and fearless then.
      Thank you for visiting, Marja.

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  2. You were Brave Renee, I too do not like heights to that extent.. and to walk across in such conditions was very Brave… Lovely drawing you did too and fitted perfectly with your poem xx Hugs to you my friend, I hope you are well xx

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  3. I may have done that when I was younger not a chance in hell now. Not unless my life depended on it I guess and then it would only be IF I wanted to live more than I wanted to die…. LOL
    Great pic and prose to go with it.

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  4. I enjoyed your rendering of the actual bridge here. It seems like it must of been a scary trip and I get the feeling of thinking you might fall into the crevice below. Well done, I could feel myself there with you in your plight

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