Russ Herman: Crossing the Bridge

pretty promptly after death. The local burial ground was in a sandy field about two miles from the hospital. Putting all this together with the family’s story that she had died and come back, we surmised that, believing her to be dead, they had already started to bury her when she showed some sign of life (a little moan, a sudden gasp, or maybe a fluttered eyelid?). They would have been horrified at having started to bury her before she was all the way dead and would have pulled her out and rushed her to the hospital.

CROSSING THE BRIDGE

by Russ Herman

Though I have walked a little more than halfway across the bridge There is yet sap in my veins And my leaves have turned to autumn color But roots are deep And travel forward not so steep.

“Halfway through the sun the ram has run,” But there are many more suns to see And things to be. I do not look backward or retrace the steps But am ever forward so as not to fall.

There is yet fire in my belly and passion in my heart The warmth of love and laughter And music in my being yet unplayed And unfinished melodies to mark my way.