The Bridge
In another garden, a walled garden
A well hidden garden
A boy was teaching himself
To build a bridge
"Is this place a secret?" I asked.
"No! The bridge is."
He quickly moved away so that we could
No longer see his bridge.
"Are you a teacher, or are you a
Social worker?" he asked.
"No."
"Don't lie," he said.
"Every big person is a teacher or social worker."
"I'm just an old man who
travels from place to place."
He must have believed me because he led me
Back to his bridge.
"Does your bridge go somewhere?"
"No. That is not necessary."
I was puzzled; I did not understand.
"Is this a bridge to the future?"
"No. That is not necessary."
The boy was becoming suspicious, but I tried one more question.
"Why is the bridge necessary?"
"It isn't. It is only
Necessary to understand how to build a bridge."
"I forgot about that."
Sadly he said, "Don't tell the others;
They don't approve of private understandings."
When he saw that I understood,
He smiled.
So, I moved on,
but I was sad.