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in the shelter of the covered bridge – a narrow bridge

On our drive last weekend, we visited three covered bridges.

Usually our visits last at least an hour. At each bridge, we:

get a good look at the abutments beneath the bridge
watch and listen for birds
identify the trees near the bridge and any wild plants in the vicinity
photograph the covered bridge and any interesting architectural elements
take notes about the state of the bridge, any new construction and the condition and covering of the roof
look for animal tracks, holes made by woodpeckers, birds nests, spider webs and feathers
record any notations in the bridge – carvings, chalk, felt marker, pencil, pen and paint
make a list of the sounds I hear and try to absorb the ‘feeling’ each bridge evokes.

Florenceville Bridge, New Brunswick

I knew ahead of time, the Florenceville Bridge across the St. John River would be a different experience. Walking the bridge would be unlikely – there is no pedestrian walkway, the traffic is quite heavy and the bridge is narrow. I did cross the bridge in our truck, a harrowing adventure since the bridge traffic is two-way. Cars slow down when they meet, but the locals are seasoned to the width and scary-brave.

a red truck and a white truck meet and pass on the narrow bridge

Only one span of the Florenceville Bridge is covered (built in 1907) and this is very well maintained. The other four spans are steel trusses. The pigeons perching on the roof of the bridge are its most obvious wild life.

keeping watch

(Florenceville Bridge)

fifteen pigeons swim through air

fill gaps on the ridge line

perch on the shingled roof

scrutinize the traffic

the squeeze of half-tons

on the bridge

the kiss of mirrors

pigeons quit the ridge, glide

to the shingled shore

river winds shiver

hawkweed and sumac, displace

blankets of wild cucumber, billow

the skirts and Tilley

hats of tourists

Written by jane tims

September 11, 2015 at 7:58 am

Posted in covered bridges, crossing the river

Tagged with covered bridge, Florenceville Bridge, pigeons, plants and animals, poetry, St. John River

in the shelter of the covered bridge – a ghazal

with 2 comments

Yesterday, we drove to see a few bridges in north-western New Brunswick. One of these was the North Becaguimec River #4 (Ellis Covered Bridge) in Carleton County.

the North Becaguimec River #4 (Ellis Covered Bridge) in Carleton County (Sept 2015)

The bridge was built in 1909 and is 18.3 meters long. It shows lots of recent maintenance, including a shingled roof and new timbers and boards in the roof area.

The late summer season dominates the atmosphere of the bridges we are visiting. At this bridge, the choke cherries are black, the purple asters are the dominant flower and clematis has set its fuzzy balls of seed.

the North Becaguimec River

The North Becaguimec is a rocky brook, very shallow after a dry summer.

Although there are usually lots of spider webs in a covered bridge, this was the first time I saw a spider. The spider was still and stubborn, not moving for me or my camera.

As I have said before, in making my manuscript of poems about plants and animals living in the shelter of the covered bridge, I have been trying some different poetic forms. This is my first ghazal.

Ghazals are meant to tell of the pain of loss and the triumph of love in spite of loss. A ghazal consists of 5-15 couplets. The second line of each couplet repeats a refrain established in the first couplet. The poem can follow any meter but the meter must stay consistent in every line of the poem.

the spider waits

North Becaguimec River #4 (Ellis Covered Bridge)

in the covered bridge a spider weaves and sets its bait

between the beams, and confident, the spider waits

cedar shingles, boards replaced and rafters new

but traffic sparse, and in the web the spider waits

aster, shepherd’s purse and mullein crowd the road

no risk from the press of tires, and the spider waits

after the flood, drifts of birch and maple high

on the river shore, the spider mends its web and waits

a skater bug steps and skips on the river’s skin and fears

the water’s dry, and in its web the spider waits

on aging crib work velvet moss and lichens grow

landscape formed on rotting wood, and the spider waits

years since they wrote their names on the wall of the covered bridge

crickets sing, and in its web the spider waits

Written by jane tims

September 9, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Posted in covered bridges

Tagged with covered bridge, Ellis Covered Bridge, ghazal, history, North Becaguimec River, poetry, water, writing

contemplation

Wolf River apple

in the shelter of the covered bridge – a villanelle

with 3 comments

I have been working at my series of poems on the plants and animals living around covered bridges in New Brunswick. I decided to try a new form (for me) – the villanelle.

The villanelle is a structured poem with 19 lines and a prescribed rhyming scheme – A1 b A2 / a b A1 / a b A2/ a b A1/ a b A2 / a b A1 A2 . A famous villanelle is by Dylan Thomas – ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’.

The poem below is based on my observations at the Marven Bridge (Belleisle Creek #2) in Kings County, New Brunswick. I have taken liberties with the form, most obviously in using words beginning with the same letter in place of rhyming. I would appreciate any comments, including for improvement of the poem.

Marven Bridge, Belleisle Creek #2, in New Brunswick

wobble

Belleisle Creek #2 (Marven Covered Bridge)

bridge shudders as we walk

spaces between boards cast light on the floor

photos out of focus, faint tremble

cribwork and rafters, new wood

old nails work loose, grey walls frail

bridge shakes as we walk

in the rafters, the paper nest of a wasp

in the mud, ephemeral, the tracks of a fox

photos out of focus, faint tremble

a blue jay calls thief across brown water

at the shoreline, sensitive fern

bridge shivers as we walk

on the ledge, bones, bleached white

skeleton of a bear, backbone and fingers

photos out of focus, faint tremble

orange graffiti, letters round and wide

initials carved on the beams are faded

bridge quivers as we walk

photos out of focus, faint tremble

Copyright Jane Tims 2015

Written by jane tims

August 5, 2015 at 2:13 pm

Posted in covered bridges

Tagged with Belleisle Creek #2, covered bridge, history, Marven Bridge, nature, plants and animals, poetry, villanelle

in the shelter of the covered bridge – Baker Brook #2

grant from artsnb

with 12 comments

I am so pleased to announce – I have recieved a grant in the field of literary arts (B Category) from artsnb – the New Brunswick Arts Board. The Board has supported my work before, for my poetry manuscripts about ‘growing and gathering local foods’ and ‘harvesting colour’.

This new project will be to write a manuscript of poems about plants and animals growing in, around and under covered bridges. ‘In the shelter of the covered bridge’ will explore the natural history of these covered bridges, looking at how covered bridges modify the landscape and create a special environment for plants and animals. Because of my interest in human history, I’ll include poetry about the people who make use of the spaces of the covered bridge.

woodpecker holes in an end of the Mill Settlement Covered Bridge – all sorts of possibilities for poetry

Since experience is so important to the writing of poetry, one part of my project will be to continue my travels to the covered bridges in the province, especially the 31 covered bridges in the St. John River watershed. Every visit will suggest new subject matter for me to explore with words.

Of all the elements of this project, I think I will most enjoy the chance to show how important these bridges are to our natural and cultural history in New Brunswick.