PART FOUR

BRIDGE OF CLAY

The Thames goes under London Bridge,

This year, like last

The present turns to past.

It’s day then night then day while I

Watch the Thames go by.

Lift your fingers and touch mine:

We make a bridge in air.

You and I stood here

This year, last year, and every day

Building a bridge of clay.

Building a bridge of silver and gold:

Love dissolves and is washed away.

Washed away like wood and clay.

London Bridge has fallen down

We thought we’d built in stone.

Silver and gold are stolen away;

London’s dark and daylight’s gone;

Our hands have fallen away.

With you and now without you I

Watch the years go by.

Laurence Lerner