Tollgate on a Bridge
Heading to a tollgate on a bridge,
No stopping, no U turn allowed,
The African drum beats rhythmically
From a CD player in the car
And the sun climbs shortening shadows.
The river below distances further
As the vehicle climbs the arc of the bridge
Pulleying to lift our souls.
The face of the river glistens with little stars
Where private sailboats and motor boats bathed,
On one side of the river for the summer
Freed from a crate–a winter home in a boat yard.
But big battle ships on the other side,
Defenders of freedom
Are on duty perennially.
The arm of the gate rises
As I feed the meter with dusty coins
From the ashtray on the console,
The engine races toward the pungent salty air
Freed from the lassoes of the entry and exit
Of the tollgate bridge.
2020
Year of the Rat
yenna yi 