as part of the writing course

We had to write a poem based on true history.  I chose the opening of the Forth Road Bridge.  The outcome of the research is this piece of work.

The Opening of

the Forth Road Bridge

With thirty one thousand miles of wire,

And thirty nine thousand tons of steel,

Seven workers’ lives which were stolen,

Never meant to be part of the deal.

A bridge, spanning two thousand metres,

Crosses over the Firth of the Forth

And takes us from, the Queensferry South,

To the Queensferry here, in the North.

The ferryboats needed no longer,

Over eight hundred years they have ran

Now traffic can cross over water,

On this wonder designed by a man.

People who worked on the ferry boats

Now collecting the money we pay

No longer for 18 pounds a week

But two pounds and 10 shillings per day

Constructing the bridge is completed

The painting of it just about done.

Those tons of metal are glistening

In the light of the September sun

Our queen and her husband are crossing

The bridge, while the crowd shouts, waves and cheers.

This moment people have waited for

Has arrived, after twenty one years.

Underneath in the river’s waters,

Naval ships wait to join in the fun,

From today there’s a brand new era,

To be marked by them firing a gun.

With their flags and their pretty dresses,

Little girls in the crowd curtsey down.

The boys in their suits, all smart and clean

Get told off for just acting the clown.

The main celebrations are over

This event went according to plan

All the people are travelling home

In most every transport they can

Memories are all that are left here,

Heavy traffic runs daily each way.

Children, now adults, are telling kids,

Of one very spectacular day.

Freda Brodie

November 2008