isa bellešs bridges

i wish you could return to me
and that together we could return to the way
things used to be
i, awkward and gawky
struggling with my brother's bike
every day travelling the mile
to meet you underneath the metal beams
you mouth spreading widely
"you came, i didnt know you would come!"
"i come every day, isa belle"

and you would take my hand then
and we would walk the dirty overgrown path
underneath the bridges
listening to the sounds of the deep ravine
as you told me stories of
jack in the pulpits
the frosted chrysanthemums
the glorious gaping expanse of bluebirds and butterflies and baby
yellowjackets
you gave every living creature a name
a place
and a mate
and we remembered them all
as we journeyed the ravine to the great lake michigan

you were beautiful, isa belle
that thick flaxen hair
that slippery skin
the way you glided over the rocks
and water and thorns that i stumbled
and fell over
"did you hurt yourself?"
"no, no i didnt hurt myself, isa belle"

when i stopped visiting you beneath the bridges
i day dreamed about the lace dresses withering
dirtied by the days you spent waiting
on the concrete landing where the bridge met the terrain
invisible isabelle they called you
and i could not forget that
as i watched you run trying not to fall to meet me
12 years later beneath the bridges
and i, turning my head from you
bringing my new lover to my old playgrounds
i ignored you as we passed
my feet were much surer now
and it was i who led him
it was i who floated over the rocks
and water and thorns that he stumbled
and fell over
it was i who asked him if he had hurt himself

the days have passed again isa belle
and i wish we were still young
i wish i still marvelled at your lace
and grace and beauty
i wish i still rushed to the bridges every day to continue
a drama
to continue a walk
to continue a life with you
i wish i could have offered you a goodbye
a thank you perhaps for a dream

Kieran Kieckhefer

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