The movie about nostalgia, time travel,
and what looking back to a ‘golden age’
means was charming. Still, nostalgia
robs the best of now, takes away
the present. The present contains
elements of pasts and futures.
It’s not a question of what the future
will bring or of building bridges to the future;
the future is arriving. We can build
better futures and we can build for all.
What we do now is key: the future
arrives on decaying, crumbling bridges too.
Andrew Shattuck McBride
**
“Bridge Work” is my poem for August 7, 2012 and the postcard poetry project. I used an antique card titled “Canoe and Deception Pass Bridges [Washington].” I mailed the card to Sandra G. of Seattle, Washington.
[Note: just realized I used “presents” in the postcard version (sixth line) when I meant “futures.” A handwritten typographical error!]
Blessings to Sandra G. and all, Andy
Andrew Shattuck McBride, Writer's Blog 
Oh, this is wonderful. You give the poem’s bridge metaphor such an original twist with the images in the last two lines! I also like how “too” at the end resonates back to the recurring word “future(s)” in the middle of the poem.
_Midnight in Paris_, right? (Was that not the funniest portrayal of Ernest Hemingway in all of film?) What a stroke of genius for you to link the Deception Pass Bridges picture to the movie!
Jennifer, I didn’t know if this worked. Thank you so much for your kind comments–you are always so encouraging. “Future” is a great word….
Yes, “Midnight in Paris.” The actor who played Hemingway was hilarious. (“Anyone want to fight?) Curious, how Hemingway is (one) of the most well developed characters in the movie. “Midnight…” is one of my new favorites! (I just watched it a second time this week!)
I hadn’t thought of that. The Deception Pass Bridges antique card view is lovely. In a way, this poem is a comment on our decaying and crumbling infrastructure nation-wide. The recipient lives in Seattle, and there’s a fair amount of civic discourse over bridges in the Seattle metro area.
Thanks again, and blessings to you and your family, Andy