The Warning from the Tollman on the Bridge over the Tranquil River.

Be careful taking your first step on this wooden bridge at night.

The dark abyss below will beckon you to run across in fright,

The serpentine wind will tease and tempt you to give up the fight.

" I warn you, now, to walk this bridge is to gamble with your plight."

Some lost souls are made of stronger thread and will not heed the call,

They laugh and run straight out ignoring the risk and the fall.

Rash soldiers who trade a pound of caution for an ounce of gall.

" I sing to them of danger but they do not hear me at all."

But the cold wood here is rotten and can easily splinter,

I saw a whole family, die, as if they didn't matter,

Death sleeps here and all it needs is an old loose beam to shatter,

" I warn everyone but some take my words as useless chatter."

I remember well the lovers, oh they were full of mischief,

Joan wanted to meet Don on the bridge and sneak off like a thief,

Don was in such a hurry their encounter was very brief,

" It was joyful to hear them promise a love beyond belief."

Joan was a beautiful young girl who had lovely words to weave,

"Come my handsome Prince, escort me to heaven ,and by your leave,

I will beg your pardon and find the grace to attend your sleeve.

" What sad alchemy does love perform when faithful hearts believe."

I recall old Mark, a lively man who crossed the bridge with cheer.

" There isn't much of a vision when the darkened clouds appear,

I prefer to stoke the fire than watch the Sun disappear."

" But when the fire went out he huddled near the bridge in fear."

I saw a smart boy chase a butterfly and fall to his fate,

He had bright colours in his eyes and a gazelle in his gate,

He was too good for this bridge and I could never make him wait.

" Beware this bridge will silence both the humble and the great."

There was my mad friend Mathew always had his head in the skies,

He told me that voices spoke to him of secret truths and lies,

I saw him climb over the edge, here, and hang on to the ties,

He held on bravely but soon the visions faded from his eyes.

So I must warn the travelers, to be careful as they go,

To walk in grace and spare a thought for the ones who lie below.  

To be able to cross is easy, there is little to know,

“Walk freely over this ancient bridge but pay me as you go.”