A Modern Marvel

by Matthew S. Farmer (art by Jenny Judlin)

A spectacle of man’s engineering
Concrete, Cables, towering high

we pledge our faith
we pledge our trust
we bring our family
we bring our future

A young couple drives across in their yellow car looking for lunch on the other side
A single mother rushes home from school to pick her children up from the babysitter
A distracted truck driver on his phone who just received news that his father is passing away

But there is a flaw in the design
a high grey wind breaks the cables
they said it could never happen
the cable flips and whips after the relief of pressure
and the bridge begins to turn
the concrete cracks, more cables break


now we have fear
we grasp for assurance
we want to protect our family
we want to protect our future


the bridge fails and the road crumbles into the sea


a young couple fights to get the doors open in the blue water
a single mother unconscious from the impact
a praying truck driver is swimming to sandy shore
there is no difference between their tears and the salty water

A Post-Modern Tragedy
the futilely of man’s creation
there is no faith in man
there is no trust in our efforts

Instead, trust in God
He shall not break
He shall not bend
The cross will endure all winds
and ensure safe passage eternal