“The Bridge”

“The Bridge” is a song that appears in “Its Wavering Image,” a short story by Sui Sin Far that appears in Mrs. Spring Fragrance. The lyrics of the song are taken from the poem “The Bridge” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Although Sui Sin Far only includes the lyrics of the song in the short story, I searched online to see if I could find sheet music that would indicate she was thinking of an actual song when she wrote this story. I found images of sheet music (link opens in new tab) composed circa 1880-1889 by Miss M. Lindsay. After finding the music, I created a recording of myself singing the part that is quoted by Sui Sin Far so that others can hear what she was likely thinking of when she was writing the story. I recommend listening to the recording as you read the text.

"And forever, and forever,  
As long as the river flows, 
As long as the heart has passions, 
As long as life has woes, 
The moon and its broken reflection,  
And its shadows shall appear,  
As the symbol of love in heaven,  
And its wavering image here."

Mrs. Spring Fragrance, 90