Steel Bridge at High Water

They've raised the bottom deck, but not the top.
A dredging barge is waiting at the bend
for bridge to rise, or water level drop.

A heavy rain, a sudden thaw to send
the rivers rising, all across the state.
A dredging barge is waiting at the bend

for trains to cross. Commuters won't be late
but barge crews know that time is hard to keep
with rivers rising all across the state.

He idles back. His engines rumble deep
and churn the water, turning jade to milk.
These barge crews know that time is hard to keep

and sow ears rarely turn to purple silk.
They're burning fuel just to stay in place,
and churning water, turning jade to milk.

The bargeman's like the Red Queen in a race.
They've raised the bottom deck, but not the top
and he burns fuel, just to stay in place
and wait for bridge to rise, or water drop.

Collection available! Knocking from Inside