The Bridge of the Hundred Spans
By Gilbert Parker
It was the time that the Long Divide
Blooms and glows like an hour-old bride;
It was the days when the cattle come
Back from their winter wand’rings home;
Time when the Kicking Horse shows its teeth,
Snarls and foams with a demon’s breath;
When the sun with a million levers lifts
Abodes of snow from the rocky rifts;
When the line-man’s eyes, like the lynx’s, scans
The lofty Bridge of the Hundred Spans.
Round a curve, down a sharp incline,
If the red-eyed lantern made no sign,
Swept the train, and upon the bridge
That binds a canon from ridge to ridge.
Never a watchman like old Carew;
Knew his duty, and did it, too;
Good at scouting when scouting paid,
Saved a post from an Indian raid —
Trapper, miner, and mountain guide,
Less one arm in a lumber slide;
Walked the line like a panther’s guard,
Like a maverick penned in a branding-yard.
“Right as rain,” said the engineers,
“With the old man working his eyes and ears.”
“Safe with Carew on the mountain wall,”
Was how they put it, in Montreal.
Right and safe was it East and West
Till a demon rose on the mountain crest,
And drove at its shoulders angry spears,
That it rose from its sleep of a thousand years,
That its heaving breast broke free the cords
Of imprisoned snow as with flaming swords;
And, like a star from its frozen height,
An avalanche leaped one spring-tide night;
Leaped with a power not God’s or man’s
To smite the Bridge of the Hundred Spans.
It smote a score of the spans; it slew
With its icy squadrons old Carew.
Asleep he lay in his snow-bound grave,
While the train drew on that he could not save;
It would drop, doom-deep, through the trap of death,
From the light above, to the dark beneath;
And town and village both far and near
Would mourn the tragedy ended here.
One more hap in a hapless world,
One more wreck where the tide is swirled,
One more heap in a waste of sand,
One more clasp of a palsied hand,
One more cry to a soundless Word,
One more flight of a wingless bird;
The ceaseless falling, the countless groan,
The waft of a leaf and the fall of a stone;
Ever the cry that a Hand will save,
Ever the end in a fast-closed grave;
Ever and ever the useless prayer,
Beating the walls of a mute despair.
Doom, all doom — nay then, not all doom!
Rises a hope from the fast-closed tomb.
Write not “Lost,” with its grinding bans,
On life, or the Bridge of the Hundred Spans.
See, on the canon’s western ridge,
There stands a girl! She beholds the bridge
Smitten and broken; she sees the need
For a warning swift, and a daring deed.
See then the act of a simple girl;
Learn from it, thinker, and priest, and churl.
See her, the lantern between her teeth,
Crossing the quivering trap of death.
Hand over hand on a swaying rail,
Sharp in her ears and her heart the wail
Of a hundred lives; and she has no fear
Save that her prayer be not granted her.
Cold is the snow on the rail, and chill
The wind that comes from the frozen hill.
Her hair blows free and her eyes are full
Of the look that makes Heaven merciful —
Merciful, ah! quick, shut your eyes,
Lest you wish to see how a brave girl dies!
Dies — not yet; for her firm hands clasped
The solid bridge, as the breach out-gasped,
And the rail that had held her downward swept,
Where old Carew in his snow-grave slept.
Now up and over the steep incline,
She speeds with the red light for a sign;
She hears the cry of the coming train,
it trembles like lanceheads through her brain;
And round the curve, with a foot as fleet
As a sinner’s that flees from the Judgment-seat,
She flies; and the signal swings, and then
She knows no more; but the enginemen
Lifted her, bore her, where women brought
The flush to her cheek, and with kisses caught
The warm breath back to her pallid lips,
The life from lives that were near eclipse;
Blessed her, and praised her, and begged her name
That all of their kindred should know her fame;
Should tell how a girl from a cattle-ranche
That night defeated an avalanche.
Where is the wonder the engineer
Of the train she saved, in half a year
Had wooed her and won her? And here they are
For their homeward trip in a parlour car!
Which goes to show that Old Nature’s plans
Were wrecked with the Bridge of the Hundred Spans.
Poem Analysis:
Gilbert Parker’s The Bridge of the Hundred Spans is a compelling narrative poem that blends adventure, heroism, and the relentless force of nature. Set against the dramatic backdrop of a mountainous landscape, the poem explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the triumph of human courage in the face of catastrophe.
Summary of the Poem
The poem opens with a vivid depiction of the season when winter recedes, and the natural world begins to awaken. The imagery of the Kicking Horse River, a well-known waterway in the Canadian Rockies, sets the stage for the narrative. The scene is centered on the eponymous Bridge of the Hundred Spans, an engineering marvel spanning a deep canyon. A watchman named Carew, a seasoned veteran with a rich past, guards the bridge, ensuring the safety of trains that pass over it.
However, a natural disaster—a catastrophic avalanche—strikes one spring night, destroying a portion of the bridge and killing Carew. Unaware of the danger ahead, a train barrels toward the broken structure, setting the stage for impending tragedy.
At this critical moment, a young girl, whose bravery surpasses her fear, emerges as the poem’s heroine. Witnessing the destruction and the oncoming train, she undertakes a daring rescue. Carrying a lantern, she traverses the precarious remains of the bridge, risking her own life to warn the approaching train. Her courageous act prevents disaster, saving all aboard. The story concludes with the revelation that she later marries the train’s engineer, reinforcing the idea that fate rewards the brave.
Themes and Literary Devices
- Heroism and Self-Sacrifice: The poem’s central theme is heroism, exemplified by both Carew and the young girl. Carew, a veteran of many hardships, meets his end performing his duty, embodying the steadfastness of the working class. The girl, in contrast, is an unexpected savior, demonstrating that courage is not limited by age, gender, or occupation. Her selfless act ensures the survival of the train’s passengers, elevating her from an ordinary person to a legendary figure.
- The Power of Nature: Nature in the poem is depicted as both beautiful and dangerous. The changing seasons, the awakening river, and the avalanche illustrate the duality of nature—its capacity for renewal and destruction. The avalanche, described as a malevolent force with “flaming swords” and “icy squadrons,” represents an unstoppable power that challenges human endeavors. The destruction of the bridge symbolizes the fragility of human achievements when pitted against nature’s wrath.
- Fate and Redemption: Parker introduces the theme of fate through the contrasting destinies of Carew and the girl. While Carew succumbs to the avalanche, the girl survives against overwhelming odds, reinforcing the idea that fate is unpredictable. Additionally, the ending—where she finds love with the train’s engineer—suggests that acts of bravery can lead to unexpected rewards. This resolution counters the poem’s earlier despair, offering hope and reaffirming the value of courage.
- Vivid Imagery and Symbolism: Parker’s use of rich imagery enhances the poem’s dramatic effect. The bridge itself serves as a symbol of human ingenuity and perseverance, linking not just two physical ridges but also the human determination to overcome obstacles. The lantern, which the girl clutches between her teeth, becomes a beacon of hope, guiding the train to safety. Snow, initially described as an idyllic aspect of winter’s end, transforms into a destructive force, illustrating nature’s unpredictability.
Poetic Structure and Style
Parker employs a rhythmic and fast-paced structure, mirroring the urgency of the narrative. The poem’s use of enjambment and varied line lengths create a sense of motion, drawing readers into the unfolding drama. The language is rich with metaphor and personification, particularly in its depiction of the avalanche as an almost sentient adversary. Repetition reinforces key themes, particularly in the final stanzas, where phrases like “Ever the cry that a Hand will save” underscore the poem’s existential musings.
The Bridge of the Hundred Spans is a masterful poem that combines thrilling storytelling with deep thematic resonance. Parker crafts a gripping tale of human resilience against nature’s formidable power, using striking imagery and compelling characters to bring the story to life. The poem serves as both a cautionary tale and an ode to heroism, reminding readers of the extraordinary courage that can emerge in moments of crisis. Through its depiction of fate, sacrifice, and redemption, the poem remains a timeless exploration of human strength and perseverance.