Ixora Press

Burning Bridges is a poem from the Life section of my poetry book, Reflections on Love, Life & Loss.

Who hasn’t burned a bridge or two?

I’m not talking about literal bridges here, just the ones we build to connect to the significant people who enter our lives. You know, the ones we wished to keep close. Bridges that signified community, connection, love and fellowship until they didn’t anymore.

Burning Bridges is just four lines – short and to the point. Why hesitate with lines arranged in iambic or trochaic metres when one can simply be done with it? Set it aflame and watch it burn.

I don’t see this as being dismissive or cruel but rather the last resort towards protecting oneself from repeated aggravation or toxic individuals, whether such individuals are friends, relatives or even close family members. For the sake of self-respect, self-preservation and peace, I say burn the bridge and fill the moat.

We don’t live our lives backwards. So, if there is any attempt at reconciliation, I’ll be a peach and throw down a plank across the chasm. They can cross it at their own risk.