Christmas Eve 2019

From the dark
of the distant past
a bell tolls
from faraway

Joined by others
ringing out
from down below
from near and far

The lights are dimmed
the music muted
speech demure
this December night

The old organ plays
the well-known tunes
as sung
by ageing voices

The story replays
as in so many years
gone by since then
Christ is born

Christmas bells

A warm southerly breeze
brought the joyful sound
of pealing bells
summoning to worship
those that would not normally come

Some bells were silenced
their halls now empty,
put to other use,
Others newly cast
sending out their call across the land

Another Christmas has arrived
will it make any difference at all?
Some only recently began to observe
others don't think it's that big a deal
did he die then for our sins today?

The bell in the forest
matches the bell near the distant sea
A watchnight service they call it there
but the purpose is the same
Rejoice! Christ was born today.