Promise To Gow's Bridge

© 2001; words by C. Drew Lamm, music by James Gordon
from Song of Our City on Pipe Street Records

When I was young on Water Street
Just down from John McCrae
I'd stroll myself along the Speed
To the bridge we called One Way.

I'd lean into that good old friend
Built from ancient stone
And dream the dreams that only come
When you're all alone.

I'd watch the water pass below
The maples on the shore
The water bubbling on the stones
Would whisper "life holds more"-

"Built in 1897",
That was written on the plaque,
I added up the years-
And then I knew that I'd be back

When that bridge had reached a hundred,
And when I had reached my prime,
I promised my bridge that I'd return
To share a moment, one more time.

And when 1997 came,
Though I'd moved far away,
I drove 500 miles
To share Gow's Bridge's special day.

I wrote a poem, brought seeds for the birds
To sprinkle along the edge
The best of gifts that I could think
To give an old stone bridge.