The Bell-Ringer

A man who wore his best grey suit

Leaned over in the pew

And whispered to his darling wife

Who, meeting his eye, knew

That flame which danced within his mind

And burned his vision through:

“I must go now, and the ring bell:

That I was sent to do.

For if I falter in my quest,

I fear I’d have deceived you.”

His wife then held his arm and said,

“My spirit will not leave you.

Regardless of the winds that blow

Or stop us in our steps,

That bell was truly made for you;

Now fill the oath you’ve kept.”

The man, without another word

Amassed into the air,

He stood and, bracing up himself,

Descended down the stair

Lit only by the candlelight

Of some forgotten moon

And chilled to frost by winter breeze;

His breath was gone too soon.

Surrendered now to time and space,

His footsteps all the more

Entreated on the chamber walls

And echoed through the door,

Awakening within the deep

Of tombs remembered not

Three ancient spirits, of a world

That tempered steel forgot.

They laid in wait around the bend,

One each along the wall;

Around three corners, still as stone,

To hasten then the fall.

The first appeared and made his form

To be of broken glass

And stood between the winding way:

"Man, thou shalt stand to pass

If only you unveil your eyes

And view the world before you:

A tale as wondrous, vast as time,

And wont to then adore you.

Now see the powers in your blood

And bring them into life."

The man, in shadow, stooped and said,

"Begone, thou septic strife

Which brings me only angst and grief

Before my very eyes;

For if I do what thou may wish,

The blue will leave the skies."

Surrendered, then, to mystic tongue,

The first one took its leave

And signaled to the second ghost

To dampen its reprieve.

The second reared its fiery head

And, face-to-face, it cried,

"Take heed: what have your fingers done

To keep your soul alive?

Extend your hands upon the earth

And heal their open wounds,

For only you withhold the power:

Salvation for the doomed."

The man looked up and spoke aloud,

"What more do you want done:

To spread a trap across the dirt

And cancel out the sun?

The course of action: noblest thing

To usher in the age;

But no mere mortal can convince

The stars to pay my wage."

As if to gather up the wind,

The second dropped its head,

A single gesture of defeat

And of a careful stead.

One now remained, the primal force

Who breathed the storm in two,

Then slowly rose to meet the man

And portion out the few.

"How apt, how impressive, indeed,"

It started its applause,

"I see you've mastered heart and soul
And built up your façades

Of strength, determination, and

A will to thus succeed;

But heed my warning, here and now,

Before you take your leave:

Your mind is all-begotten now,

You know what must be done,

You battled in the trenches

And you know the wars you've won;

Yet one is crawling to your door

To tempt and to deceive,

And do you think you've done enough

To stand up from your knees?

What do you think your hand will ring

Beyond this hall of stone?

What notion does your wisdom hold

When you are all alone

Upon your quest, as it is named,

To ring a brazen bell?

The passsage shut; there is no sound;

The saints will never tell."

The man now raised his voice and placed

His hand upon his heart,

And, for a moment, stood himself

The thought and will apart;

But for a flashing, fleeting moment

When he closed his eyes,

A prayer, a mantra, pierced the dark

And brightened up the skies.

For not the man alone mistook

His quest as lonely soul,

But that the halves, till death do part,

Made known the purpose whole.

"Behind me Scrupulosity!

Now, move thee from the path;

I know now how to best your might

Or anchor from your wrath;

But know this well, and take my heed

Before you bow and pray:

Your time has come to breathe the air

And wait another day."

At once, the apparitions rose

And vanished in the air

Within nothing more than single shrieks

That echoed to nowhere.

One final breath filled up his lungs;

He came cross the door

That held within a single rope

Which led to this and more:

A stately bell of iron and bronze

Suspended overhead,

Awaiting as the messenger

Approached in merriment

At conscious salutation; then,

With one resounding pull,

The bell was rung; the mind was shook

And finally was full.