Under the Bridge Tonight

[Stephen Whiteside]

Under the Bridge Tonight

It isn’t a place for the feeble of heart
Under the bridge tonight.
The rain’s horizontal. It stabs like a dart
Under the bridge tonight.
The wind races through, and it lashes your skin.
Reach, if you can, for your kith and your kin.
Search high and low for a place to stay in,
Not under the bridge tonight.

There’s only one wall, and there’s scarcely a floor
Under the bridge tonight.
Survival is nought but a grim, sodden chore
Under the bridge tonight.
The wind and the rain and the dark take a hold.
The groundsheet is wet and the blankets are cold.
All who seek shelter feel weary and old
Under the bridge tonight.

I’m grateful to lie in my house in my bed,
Not under the bridge tonight;
Cosy and snug from my toes to my head,
Not under the bridge tonight;
And I pray there is nobody out there in pain,
Exposed to the cold and the wind and the rain,
But I fear that there is, and my prayers are in vain…
Under the bridge tonight.

© Stephen Whiteside 22.06.2016

[Shelley Hansen]

Hi Stephen

Sobering, thought-provoking, and sadly, so true. We who have warm homes and beds have so much to be thankful for.

Cheers
Shelley

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thank you, Shelley.

[Neville Briggs]

You've tackled a tragic theme. The reader would have to make sure that it was read slowly, it's easy to pick up the pace in that metre.

[mummsie]

Sadly, there are so many Stephen and so many of a very young age.

Sue

[vwalla]

Stephen
How so very true!
Val W

[alongtimegone]

All of the above but, just as a piece of writing - so good. I liked the stanza structure.
Wazza

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thank you, all.

[thestoryteller]

Reflective thoughts Stephen and having shared rough nights in younger days it brings back a few memories.

Enjoyed the read.



Merv.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thanks, Merv.