Girl on the Merrimac River Bridge

She was drunk and bitter,and the rain so cold,much like her heart,
Crying , sobbing, screaming, as she walked the lonely Newburyport streets.
I felt lonely for her, ignored by Saturday night revelers.
Wandering and crying with insanity dangling off her shoulders.
She reached her destination,the draw bridge over the Merrimac river.
She clung to her intoxication, she clung to the bridge rail,
She clung to the Traffic stopping, bright car beams shining,
The rain, dancing in the headlights.

The call came in and we went to the boat, we were to be the catchers mitt.
So sad she was atop the bridge, crying to the Police officer.
He was incessant about getting her off the bridge.
"Traffics gotta move lady and your holdin it up."
"Come on down or jump, either way your comin off this bridge tonight,"

She looked at him, her blond hair wet and limp,
with sad eyes, and burnt mascara running she slipped over the edge.
We saw her go in, The boat powered up and we came to her side just as she was surfacing.
The look in her eyes told us that she had changed her mind.

Such sadness that drives one to a thing like this,
Pulling her into the boat,the screaming started once again.
We held her down by sitting on her to keep her from going back in.
She must have changed her mind again.

Oh life's decision's at times fickle in those who
see all but light, hear all but love, feel all but caring and a kind hand.
I often wonder if she ever succeeded with her high dive act.
This time she didn't and I wasn't there for her last.

( This , below is the original poem I wrote about this event)

Long Goodbye

The divine disease of epitome
Prone to implode and careen
Why we drag a messy gash
Cigarette burned Mama
Into the back seat
She's torn and crashed
Waiting for an encore
To drag out the long goodbye
And I just drive
Looking through the rear view mirror