Stone arches cradle moonlit flow
Red canopies lean down to glow;
The river keeps a silver breath
And balances on dusk and depth
Footsteps tap out measured grace
Two shadows meet without a face;
No claim no oath no flags unfurled
Yet fellowship redraws the world
Leaves stipple stars upon the stream
A quiet pact completes a dream;
Where crossings honor what we were
But ask the heart to grow demurer
At twelve the town forgets to speak
The bridge remembers what we seek:
To move yet keep an inner stay
A span of stillness in our way