footbridge

i take a picture
as i stand at the beginning of
the wood and cable footbridge
august, belt, montana

mother and daughter
hold tightly each other’s hand
guide careful, uneasy steps across
the parallel planks

the bridge sways
as they move in matching azure shirts
over copper brown creekbed
flanked by granite grey

tree limbs encroach
on the cable rail and wood deck
needing to be hewn back for protection
of the bridge

it doesn’t matter
the bridge will fall late next april
by foolery in an obscure town
already expendable

but today
mother and daughter cautious and delighted
cross the swinging bridge, smiling
creating memory indelible