The Span

From the old bridge we’d been stopped on,

a little below us, it looked like a diving board.

When the girl switched her sign from Stop to Slow

I saw across the river three men standing like old-

fashioned divers at its base, newsreels we’d seen

of men in swim caps. “Hard hats,” you literal you.

You agreed with “like a diving board,” but no spring

to it. Something below was holding it up, something

concrete. It was the business of your life. Concrete—

but for me the men were waiting their turn over there,

each to compete for the best two-and-a-half gainer

to knife the Tye River. They’d die, you said.

“That’s a fine span,” I learned, “a very long one—

they didn’t make ’em like that back then.” Or us

either, I thought as I almost saw the Hard Hat bounce

at the tip, his one knee up to his waist.

“Inspectors,” you said as we drove across, “lolly-

gagging.” Whichever. Our span is ready.