But the bridge, it’s unforgiving…

Wind Band & SATB Choir | Grade 4 | ~8:45

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Commissioned by Emma Cooke (choir director), Dominick DeFrancisco (band director),

But the bridge, it’s unforgiving… was commissioned by Emma Cooke, Dominick DeFrancisco, and the Lebanon High School Choir and Concert Band of Lebanon, New Hampshire in May 2023. This work is the first in what hopes to be a series of new commissions for wind band and choir at Lebanon High School.

Every year Lebanon High School hosts a writing contest where students submit essays and are judged by a panel of English professors from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. As a part of this commission, a poetry component was added, and the winner’s poem would be used as the lyrics for the the commission. Ellie Clark, a freshman trumpet player, had won the poetry contest. Below is her poem:

Two dots of paint, together in the world. Both color and laughter, they danced and they twirled. They flew and they fell, they cried as they laughed. They sat on a bridge and felt the updraft. They turned to another, vivid and clear. “Please never leave. I love you my dear.”

But the bridge, it’s unforgiving. And the bridge, it changes tune. So we find a small dot standing. Underneath the moon. Its color is long faded. Its red turned to white. And it falls forward, succumbing to the night. 

One dot of paint, left in the world. No longer does it dance, no longer does it twirl. It sits alone and cries, it looks for nothing left. It notices the empty space and contemplates its death. To the darkness it screams at night. “Please never leave. This isn’t right.”

And the bridge, it’s unforgiving. And the bridge, it changes tune. So we find a small dot standing. Underneath the moon. The bridge beckons forward. The color loses faith. It’s all so overwhelming, no one left to save.

One dot of paint, alone in the world. The colors inside, faint and whirled. Underneath is the coaxing end. The dot looks down, wanting a friend. But it doesn’t fall, not tonight. “Please don’t leave, You’re strong despite.” 

An updraft blows, their eyes meet together. And somewhere between there is small tether. Connected in color, connected in hope. Suddenly it’s not such a slippery slope. The colors mix, nil to glow. “I won’t leave. I won’t go.” 

So the bridge, it is forgiving. So the bridge it holds strong. And we find two dots falling. Both with nothing gone. They both fall backwards. The bridge it holds on tight. And together they are vivid, shining in the night. 

Ellie Clark May, 2022

The heaviness of this poem is very evident. After reading Ellie’s poem the first time I was speechless as this topic of suicide hit close to home for me. I had a good friend during my time at the University of New Hampshire and we supported each other when life was starting to be too much. They had lost their life to suicide. When I first found out I was devastated and was filled with guilt as I felt there was more that I could have done. It’s always hard to accept the reality of losing someone to suicide, but it’s important to remember and celebrate their life and I firmly believe Ellie captured that feeling in her poetry.

In 2021, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, and was 3rd among 15 to 24 year olds (save.org/suicide-statistics/). If you or know someone who is struggling with depression and is at risk of suicide, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Help is available. You are not alone. I, myself, continue to suffer from depression and suicidal thoughts. Please do not suffer in silence. You are loved.

But the bridge, it’s unforgiving… was premiered on May 17th, 2023 by Emma Cooke, Dominick DeFrancisco, and the Lebanon High School Choir and Concert Band in the Lebanon Opera House in Lebanon, New Hampshire.