The Bridge Over the River
written by: Srinjaya Lahiri
The bridge over the river –
a tall, towering structure with slanting pillars –
majestic in appearance,
serving as my gateway to another world.
Taking the bridge was like reaching the skies aboard a joyride.
Soaring into a bigger, better world,
a world where horizons expanded, and dreams got their wings.
I took that bridge often.
And each time, it felt like a trip to paradise with fairies and angels watching over me.
Decked up in glowing colours,
with glittering stars pinned to my dress and hair tied in neat ponytails.
Frolicking and jumping around with baskets filled with food, fun, and laughter.
The most pleasant journey ever,
with the marvels of the other world popping up in magical succession.
The holy river, flowing quietly underneath, lauded my ascent.
Lighter times, they were when I didn’t know what chasing dreams meant,
and what growing up entailed.
But there came a summer when the commute ceased to be dreamy.
Two ends of the bridge – they never meet.
So I chose the bigger, better one.
But the stars that once glittered on my dress, now showed up only in the skies –
distant and elusive like the world that trailed behind.
- The Bridge Over the River - July 24, 2026
- Mother - March 18, 2026
