There's an island,
green as emerald.
That is where I live.
To this island
you can come
if you build a bridge with me.
I've built many throughout my life.
Some were shabby,
others abandoned halfway,
but plenty still stand,
strong and bright.
And there are places
where once was a bridge
but now you'll only find
a smoky scent
and burnt pikes
left behind.
Some of them
were once my favorites,
but the boards cracked,
the ropes frayed,
and tolls grew each day.
The people from the other side
never paid a visit,
never let me cross,
yet made me to maintain
our bridge alone.
At times I waited.
I stopped repairing,
wondering if anyone else
would come to fix it.
But they never did,
so I watched our bridge
slowly fall away.
Others became points of attacks,
thieves came in the middle of night
to take what little I had.
One night I woke,
and everything was gone.
All I was left with
was a single choice:
keep the bridges
or burn them down.
With heavy heart
I struck the match,
lit the fire
and watched it dance.
Sometimes people still return
and wonder why they can not cross.
"Build another one" they shout.
I pretend I can not hear,
With busy steps, I walk away.
Ash sticking to my boots,
as I tend to the bridges that remain.
Now my island is more lush than ever.
Only the people who know
how to care for it
are permitted.
The ones who do not trample the grass,
do not pick the flowers,
but water them,
call the butterflies closer,
walk gently through the fields—
with me,
along the bridges
we built together.
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More stories from Imola Tóth and writers in Poets and other communities.
Wild roots and tamed branches
I raised myself in the forest behind our house—an unwanted child no one cared for. Wounded knees and scratched shins remind me of the tall pines teaching me the first lessons. I collected dirt under my nails and petals in my pockets. I wrote stories before anyone knew I could write. I read them to my dolls, my only audience that ever truly listened. I mixed crushed violets and rainwater in chipped jars, creating secret potions that would turn me beautiful, that would make people love me.
By Imola Tóthabout a month ago in Poets
Comments (28)
The way you describe burning some bridges while tending others captures strength, wisdom and self-respect perfectly.
Well deserved placing in the challenge! A beautifully deep poem.💖
Wow! Congrats Imola!!
This is so clearly a winner of words of the flame. Beautiful and a bit sad. Congrats on a great story.
Wooohooooo congratulations on your honourable mention! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
LOVE!
Your words really hit home. 🥺 I’m learning to walk away from those one-sided bridges too. Ash on the boots but a garden in the heart! 🌸
This was such a beautiful and clear way to talk about friendships and boundaries. I really liked the image of your "emerald island" and how you chose to protect it. It is very inspiring to read about how you only keep the bridges that are built with love and care. Congratulations on your Top Story!
I love the description of nature.I can actually visualise the damage done and how you willing to revitalise everything.This is a good read
I love how you’ve honoured both the people who nurture us and the strength it takes to let go of those who don’t. Congrats on your Top Story 😊
This was incredibly written and relatable to anybody who's had to prune a bridge or two, with flint and fortitude moving onward. Excellent poem. A well-deserved top story. Congrats.
We all have our bridges to cross and bare for the lessons that we have to learn. Good job.
Hii.. I’m a new user of vocal.. I’ll always post a story, poetry about related topics but no one’s seeing it and supporting me. So i hope you’ll like my work and please support me.
Wonderful. Well-deserved top story.
This is soo goood! I sent one to the challenge too, but yours is better. I hope you'll win. ❤️
I adore this, Imola. The meter is perfection, the flow is almost sensory, brava!
Nice job capturing a tricky topic-- about letting some bridges burn to protect a beautiful space. Congratulations of top story!!
This is really nice work! Thanks for sharing, congrats on Top Story!
Just brilliant. I read it when you first published it, then when it got Too Story and now again before commenting. Love your approach and the wisdom you give with unfiltered honesty and elegance. I'm such an arsehole tho cos all I thought was "yeah, we have built a bridge between us" all about me hahahaha. Stupidity aside, my friend, this is a stunning entry and I imagine it will place somewhere. Nice to be sharing the Top Story spaces with you..congrats.
you have to let go of parasites and narcissists-congrats on ts
Yup, it's best to turn a deaf ear to those kinda people. Loved your poem. Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congratulations on Top Story 👏 🩷🧡💛💚
Nice work! I relate 🥲
Love this. I have burned so many bridges that I thought I would be able to cross for years.
Very well done. Because when the years pass and the boots are on the shelf, then beside you there must be real people. :)