Salt crust clings to the lantern glass
Tide turns slow beneath the steel pass
Fog hangs heavy on the cable wire
Hound sits quiet by the pier fire
Beam cuts clean through the misty shroud
Paws stay planted on the cold ground
Bridge cables hum with the bass line deep
Hound and keeper watch the river sleep
Mist lifts slow from the steel pier rail
Sun hits water turning silver pale
Nose knows scent of the eel and crab
Pads feel vibration of the passing cab
Ears catch rhythm of the dub delay
Tail stays still in the cool gray day
Eyes track gulls on the thermal rise
Breath makes clouds in the sunrise
Bridge cables hum with the bass line deep
Hound and keeper watch the river sleep
Mist lifts slow from the steel pier rail
Sun hits water turning silver pale
Rust eats bolts on the lamp room door
Salt wind sings through the metal floor
Log book pages yellowed with time
Entries record the rhythm and rhyme
Light still sweeps at the appointed hour
Hound and keeper share the power
Bridge cables hum with the bass line deep
Hound and keeper watch the river sleep
Mist lifts slow from the steel pier rail
Sun hits water turning silver pale
Dreams of rabbits in the bracken deep
Chase through heather while the world asleep
Wake to dub bass shaking the bridge deck
No need for collar, no need for check
River sings low in the minor key
Keeper lights pipe, looks at me
Bridge cables hum with the bass line deep
Hound and keeper watch the river sleep
Mist lifts slow from the steel pier rail
Sun hits water turning silver pale
Light and hound, bound by the tide
Lamp clicks off as the day arrives
Hound trots off where the gulls dive
