Bridge: Southwark
Title: Shady Southwark – A Tale in Five Spans
Writer: Gillian McKee
Creative partner: Mark Noad, Mark Noad Design
The work: Item 1 – A2 (420x594mm) printed on brushed aluminium, wall mounted
Description: A five verse poem reflecting the bridge’s five spans and using the acrostic SOUTHWARK BRIDGE to force structure given the engineering needed for a successful bridge. Contemplating the joining of two very different personalities – north, south and inside us all. The bridge looks the same from both sides so the text might be running from north to south or south to north depending on your starting point.
SHADY SOUTHWARK – A TALE IN FIVE SPANS
Gillian McKee
Shady Southwark, softly shouting spans of ochre and of teal
Overlooked and underused, a wealth of tales to be revealed
Underneath her to the south side, theatre’s birthplace lies concealed.
Thieves and pilgrims, playwrights, thinkers, rogues and actors made their way
Hastening to that southern bank for mead, desire, to love and play
Where artifice and art entwined, creativity held sway.
Across the north side trade and commerce grew and so did civic pride
Rules of law embedded firm, regard demanded, felons tried
Keepers of respectability stayed north, the city side.
But shady Southwark joins the two, no toll required to pass today
Rank and file may travel free from north to south and back the way
Ideals no longer black or white, but gentrified in shades of grey.
Directionless or with a path in mind the bridge leads us across
Gently guiding, whiche’r way we choose, upon a farthing’s toss
Explore both sides, be brave, no need to stay on one, just turn and cross.