Tolling Bells

And all we hear are tolling bells
telling fortunes, wishing wells
well-wishers washed in pools of tears
all eyes and ears
all eyes and ears

Are turned towards the funeral 
the heart has had its coronal*
as silence ends the reign of years
the sky rains tears 
the sky rains tears

We listen at the close of day
for birdsong, as a lullaby
returns us to our mother earth
as at our birth
as at our birth

And we, when once that song is done
where wandering souls are welcomed home
hoping to see the stars at night
put out the light
put out the light 

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*a nod to Wordsworth’s Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood

In Memoriam

E.S. 24.03.58 – 04.10.90
E.T. 04.10.24 – 20.09.14
A.F. 02.06.72 – 03.12.15
E.R. 21.04.26 – 08.09.22