Saw Tom’s church
today—impressive—
got to ring the bell—
hard to hear from in there, they warned me—
got to ring the bell—
hard to hear from in there, they warned me—
I pulled on the corded rope
Quasimodo-hard—
like hitting a lever with a sledge hammer—
Quasimodo-hard—
like hitting a lever with a sledge hammer—
like, maybe I’m strong,
but what the use of ringing a bell?—I could
barely hear—voices
but what the use of ringing a bell?—I could
barely hear—voices
of children, otherworldly, transmitted
through a telephone connection from the Castle?
Or were they tintinnabulating Ode to Joy,
through a telephone connection from the Castle?
Or were they tintinnabulating Ode to Joy,
tune played by Tom’s telephone-answering
machine at home—and,
not coincidentally,
machine at home—and,
not coincidentally,
tune I played on the piano in
Spearfish,
as Tom’s son Simon walked up the aisle
with his fiance Alex Fay?
as Tom’s son Simon walked up the aisle
with his fiance Alex Fay?
Or was it the song my sister
Emily crooned to herself next day while waiting
to be driven to her flight : I’m dreaming
Emily crooned to herself next day while waiting
to be driven to her flight : I’m dreaming
of a white Christmas
just like all the Christmases I used to know,
where the tree tops glisten and children listen
just like all the Christmases I used to know,
where the tree tops glisten and children listen
to hear Pepsi Maxes in the snow.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
with every Pepsi Max card I write,
may your days be merry and light, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
with every Pepsi Max card I write,
and may all your Pepsi Maxes
be bright! Goodnight, everybody!
be bright! Goodnight, everybody!
