NPM 2020 - Covered Bridges

When I was growing up my parents took me to Washington, DC  several years in a row during spring break to visit my sister. On the way, we took side trips to national parks, antique shops, and roadside attractions. One year we mapped out a route that had us visiting numerous covered bridges in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Utica Mills Covered Bridge, Frederick County, MD

April, 1980

after a while

they all looked alike

narrow and rickety

stretching over creeks and streams

but crossing each one was

an adventure

dad drove slowly across

the single lane bridge

while we nervously held

a collective breath

as the timbers groaned

and tires thumped

the car felt too big

the bridge too small

I could almost stretch

my hand through the window

and touch the passing beams

once safely on the other side

we stopped to celebrate

snap a picture

marvel at the engineering

before unfolding the map

and plotting our course 

to the next covered bridge

Poem ©Tricia Stohr-Hunt, 2020. All rights reserved.

That's it for today. I hope you'll join me again tomorrow.