I wrote this poem to commemorate the raising of the bridges. Hull is unique. It is built on the river Hull. There are thirteen bridges connecting the two halves of the city. All thirteen can be raised. No other city in the world can do this.
As part of the City of Culture all the bridges will be raised. I wanted to celebrate this with a poem.
Hull Bridges
Hull bridges raise their hands to the sky
East and West torn apart
But the twain shall meet again.
For Hull bridges have no feet of stone
Rather limbs that reach.
No city in the world is so apart
And so together.
Apart – together – again and again
To release those that pass beneath
They raise their arms in joy.
Hull – the unique city on the river
Where every bridge does move
More like living beasts
Like the leaves of a book
Like arms that embrace
They move
They lift
They raise
They allow passage, commerce and fun.
To release those that pass above
They cross their arms
They join in a handshake that links
Two communities
Two sides
Two banks
Like no other.
Yet for one short time
They will all raise together
And the city is split
Like no other in the world.
The city parts
A hiatus
Then is joined
Healed.
Hull bridges live and move
Not frozen
But alive.
No other city sports such versatility
Such elevation
Such cleaving.
No other city is split by rivers in such a way.
Across that divide
Tigers roar and robins strut
Black and white
Red and white
Black and amber
Colours joined
Into one.
One city
One people
Joined.
One Hull.
Opher 5.7.2017