All That Glitters: Golden Gate Bridge, 1937

All That Glitters is an homage to the dreamers and schemers that make the Bay Area unique. San Francisco artist Kaytea Petro uses a homemade hibiscus ink to illustrate historic photos, lovingly depicting a bygone era. More of her work can be seen at kayteapetro.com or on her Instagram.

All the the writings were created by students at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.

Golden Gate Bridge, 1937

12 Men Have Fallen

By Tatianna Gomez and Lucia Pachynki-Hoopes

The Golden Gate
Yet to be built
To the naked eye just strings with people attached to them
Yet for them another day

“I heard we are going to start on the Golden Gate Bridge”
Holding more tools in hand
Then a yelp with a slight bit of fear has come
“I’ve never been up 746 feet but I’ll try it anyhow”

$10 a day trying to make ends meet
Walking across the catwalk
A cry for help comes
“The catwalk is falling”
A life or death moment
Turning around going home and never looking back

The ground below his feet has vanished
Going feet first hitting the water below
Not panicking until the net
Tangled in scared to get trap
Finally free from the net
So deep underwater my ears bleed coming up for air

12 men have fallen off the Golden Gate
12 have submerged underwater
12 men down yet…
1 survived to tell his story

About the Authors: Tatianna Gomes and Lucia Pachynki-Hopes are high school students at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts.