Bridge: The Richmond Footbridge and Lock
Title: “The Richmond Footbridge and Lock”
Writer: Molly Ovenden
Creative partner: William Ovenden, embroiderer
The work:
Item 1: hand embroidered piece
Item 2: typewriter printed copy of poem (watch the author read the poem below)
Description: A 21-line poem written to capture the seasons of and visitors to the iconic toll bridge which depends on flood levels to allow passage via the toll way. An intricately hand-embroidered piece depicting key architectural design details of the bridge and its surroundings, including: floral emblems, waterfowl footprints, flood level gauge, the arch of the bridge, and the ever-changing sheen and flow of the river spilling through the raised and lowered bridge.
RICHMOND FOOTBRIDGE AND LOCK
Molly Ovenden
Autumn captures dew
in fading light
upon the bolts to hold
Winter calls frost
in etched stillness
upon the river’s flow
Spring cheers moss to life
in blooming quacks
upon the walkway old
Summer claps huzzah
in all night hilarity
upon the clear edge of gold.
No matter the season
this bridge does rise and shine
a steadfast arc to carry
whomever needs to cross
be it Tom, Dick, or Harry
and here it always remains
the same –
for in London is the Thames
and it’s always about to rain
or so the story’s been told…