the detritus of human waste
litters the bins

– the river of life goes on –
remark the stones
but closer inspection
reveals birthday card cliché

all of life has crossed this bridge
long before this biro’s invention
merry
trudging
stagnant
accidentally drowned
complex in its resistance
to neat summary

a new structure now sits
down stream
all beam steeled
with modern slants
offering life at faster pace
no time to stop and contemplate

this changing template of autumn leaves
deviation towers
mapping power’s obdurate course
fast flowing
no giving way
and emphatically on track
for environmental catastrophe

copyright a shyvicar November 2020