TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

9:53 PM
Posted by jodi rose

dancers whirling skirt keep faith

saturday 21:41
wake to the first winter frost
tiny diamonds sparkling in the grass
visit the bridge, monitor vibrations
watch the river flow still and swift
impressionist hills merge green blue orange

there's something peculiarly lovely about guarding
the bridge between or over the borders
rather than the border itself
in an old roman garrison town
raise the flag, drink the wine

bridges are all about faith
not religious or even spiritual
although it can have a spiritual dimension
it is rigorous, empirical, non-denominational
faith in the bridge, it's engineering, materials, design
faith in the structure, stability, physical, political, cultural
faith that it will stay standing,
to let you pass, not hurl you to the waters below
that it will withstand the forces acting upon it
exerting pressure, gravity, conflict, daily use

bridges are not immortal
bridges are immortal

they live forever in the memory of people on either side

tonight i see the film cinderella man
and although blatantly tugging on the heartstrings
something about his perseverance, courage, and strength
gives me a sense of faith in the world, life, second chances
although if it was made about an australian boxer, he would have lost the championship - we always celebrate the underdog;
our national heroes are explorers who got lost and died,
bushrangers battlers the 'little people'
or in hungary the anti-hero of journey by moonlight

but the americans like their heroes to win.