The resonance of a handbell rang the hours at our school: it summoned us to class each day; signified the end of play; commanded a straighter line by the canteen at dinnertime; at four o’clock, it made me wait expectantly at the school gate. Kim M. Russell, 17th October 2022 After a very long hiatus, […]
Tag: Bell
Elephant Bell
It begins to swell, the hollow brassy knell a ponderous tune in the forest gloom. An elephant bull strives in limited room: first his shoulder lifts, and the bell rumbles; then his body shifts and the bell tumbles around his neck, an extra burden, a distraction the bull can never quell. Kim M. Russell, 11th […]
Pandemic Bell
This year the bells have lost their hammers,no call to Christmas mass or carol service,just the silent ring of frost and the corvid’s clamourbefore it pecks the unseeing eyes of a much too early lamb. No jingle of shop doorbells, no one-horse open sleigh,just the tinkle of baubles on Christmas trees,the twinkle of lights in […]
Unexpected Bells
‘The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of flowers.’ Matsuo Basho Silence drips into the sodden solitude of a deep druidic wood, goose-pimple chilled and tangle wild. All at once, the path Is broken by a sunny glade scattered with spikes of new nettle growth and, ringing through the leafy […]
A Foggy Christmas Eve
On the eve of Christmas, fog and darkness clotted, carriage horses plodded, following disembodied flares down narrow streets. On the eve of Christmas, ancient church bells muttered as first snowflakes fluttered, and invisibly stuttered out the hours in muffled beats. On the eve of Christmas, with baubles and overpriced dolls, drums and sugar mice bright […]
Knell of the Elephant Bell
The hollow knell Of a brass elephant bell’s Ponderous tune Begins to swell, Low and musical In the forest gloom. An elephant bull Strives in limited room, First his shoulder lifts, The bell rumbles, Then his body shifts From side to side And the bell tumbles Around his neck, An extra burden, A signal bell, […]
First Playground Memories
My response to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille – our source for inspiration is a quote from Matsuo Basho: “The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.” It was my first day at school. The playground was alive with boisterous boys and giggling girls, running and […]
writing in north norfolk 