William R. Rodriguez

William R. Rodriguez Poems

The Best Poem Of William R. Rodriguez

Triborough Bridge: Genesis

in the beginning there was the land and the water
the water separated the mainland from the islands
and moses said 'may there be a great bridge
to join the islands to the islands and the islands to the mainland'
it was good and moses said
'may there be roads and highways that lead to the great bridge
that joins the islands to the islands and the islands to the mainland'
it was good and moses said
'may there be parks and playgrounds
for the people in the cars that drive
on the roads and highways that lead to the great bridge
that joins the islands to the islands and the islands to mainland'
it was good and moses said
'may there be money to build the great bridge
and the roads and highways and parks and playgrounds'
and behold there was money
the nation went to work and it was good
the steel industry lit its furnaces and factories reopened
loggers logged and sawmills sawed
railroads hauled lumber across the continent
laborers constructed wooden frames and poured cement
barges ferried girders over the water and towers rose
cables were wound and anchored
the deck suspended and the roadway paved
the great bridge joined the islands to the islands
and the islands to the mainland
there were parks and parkways and the president
came for the opening ceremony
and the people came and rushed to be first
to pay the toll and cross the great bridge
and more people came to pay the toll
more people and more money
money that could be used to build more bridges
and it was all good
but moses did not rest

William R. Rodriguez Comments