The Bell
In the tower the bell
is alone, like a man
in his room,
thinking and thinking.
The bell is made of iron.
It takes the weight
of a man
to make the bell move.
Far below, the bell feels
hands on a rope.
It considers this.
It turns its head.
Miles away,
a man in his room
hears the clear sound,
and lifts his head to listen.
Copyright Credit: Richard Jones, "The Bell" from The Blessing: New and Selected Poems. Copyright © 2000 by Richard Jones. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press, www.coppercanyonpress.org.