Bridge Cage Swinging in Rain

Steel mesh cage dangles from a maintenance rig, tilting slightly as crosswind pushes it against the massive concrete pier. Flat noon light reflects off the churning grey water below, creating a shimmering glare that washes out the sky. Heavy rain falls in steady sheets, darkening the rusted metal mesh and turning the concrete surface slick with moisture. Late autumn leaves rest on the distant riverbank, brown and wet against the industrial grey. The cage swings in a narrow arc, its chains taut against the wind. Water droplets bead on the wire grid, catching the diffuse light before sliding off into the void below. The edge of the cage casts a sharp shadow on the wet concrete face of the pier.