An ode to burning bridges

Bridges are truly an amazing accomplishment for mankind. With no bridge, water is a nigh-impassable barrier to the land beyond it, and they have always been associated with a dream or a hope to get to the other side, or at least a sense of wonder about what may be there. For example, the Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge, connects Midgard to Asgard, and a more modern example, the Golden Gate Bridge, can bring people to San Francisco, a city that houses an unimaginable amount of people from all different cultures and walks of life.

Burning a bridge implies a loss of whatever was on the other side, and it creates a sense of hopelessness that can hardly be recreated with a simple locked door. I like how this is mixed with the awe of seeing something burn up into enrapturing flames, and how it captures the urge to stare in amazement at something so terrible, truly a part of the human psychology.

With no stars to behold, there is nothing to distract from the fire, but there is also nothing filling the void created by it.

Very nice job in creating a fleeting moment that would have lasting implications for the watchers.

Short but very powerful! Like the bridge, the first sentence makes a strong introduction. But unlike the bridge, the detailed description of the fire only makes the poem stronger.

But truly devastating to witness

Obviously I don't know if this is intended, but this sentence makes me feel like the poem is actually about ending a friendship. In this sense, the bridge could symbolize your connection with said friend. A connection that you set ablaze. You watch as it burns down and you're glad that your ties with this person are being torn, but it devastates you at the same time. You look back at the good moments you've had with them, and it hurts to know that you can't experience those moments with them again, hence why you burn the bridge that is your friendship.

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short and sweet! the fire imagery is really striking(i love the description of the ash) and the overall awe mixed with dread you evoke is wonderful to experience :)

i love this! it really brings an odd sort of beauty to the end of relationships, and the end really encapsulates a unique feeling that i think is hard to get right.

i also thought your use of smell was really potent, it added a lot to the imagery of the whole thing. if you were to extend this poem, i would think about continuing smell as a motif.

Great imagery, and the message comes across loud and clear. I love how the ending conveys the almost unbelievable beauty of destruction. The last few lines really wraps up this short and sweet piece well. Thank you for sharing!

I could really picture "The ash drifting down, like a gentle flurry the morning of a snow day." against the background of a burning bridge. Nicely written.

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Maybe, in the first line, you could say "just to set them ablaze." instead. Would be more succinct, and active, perhaps.

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Also, "no one but us and us alone" could be shortened, if you want.

I like your word choice in the second line, especially "a stench of burning lumber,"

I think in the third line, the verb "hear" from the second line carries over to "Giving off an orange hue lighting up a desolate sky." which makes sense if you're a synesthete, I guess. Or maybe I'm reading it wrong.

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I really like this poem and I clicked on it because I like the title. I also like the metaphor of "burning bridges". That is a figure of speech that is fun to play around with in poetry. Thanks for sharing :)

To me, I felt this poem was a beautiful metaphor for ending relationships. Sometimes it is the healthiest option, "But truly devastating to witness" like you said! Well done! If I were to make suggestions, I would like to say that I feel like there is more room to expand here, or in future poems. You describe a horrid, yet enchanting event of a bridge burning with the hint of the same experience for ending relationships. I wonder if there are more specific parts of a relationship ending that you could incorporate? What specific aspects, feelings, details can you include? If that is your intention, of course. Overall, wonderful job! You are talented!