Day number 4 - The View from Kew Bridge

The View from Kew Bridge – I often pass over the bridge on my way to Richmond – if only I had the time to look beyond the grey stone walls.

The view from Kew Bridge

Granite astride the Thames.

South Circular hands over to its northern partner

Its daily load.

Small cars, large cars, bikes and buses

Impersonally expectant of changing lights

Crossing banks across the road.

And while they impatiently pause upon Kew Bridge

An accidental glimpse they catch

Of a different thoroughfare that no red light can hold:

The Thames Glimpsed between Trees.

A hint of mighty authority, a suggestion of restrained power,

The Thames makes its way to the City.

Supreme and royal, unmatched in its influence

The sight is gone too soon, more’s the pity.

For as traffic light changes, the race is back on

And the view from the Bridge is a memory long gone.

But there it remains, dark depths in blue swirls,

sunlight amber cottage and redbrick hostelry hanging precariously on banks,

smiling across at lush greens trees that bow their heads

to the majesty that flows quickly by.

So the next time you sit before alien eyes

that command you to halt or bid you to leave,

remember the miracle that flows underneath

and the colours of life that are hidden from view,

but are waiting to amaze, if you look from your queue.

Linda Prince