Bells

Aged, cracked and alone
Sit the Chimes of Freedom, crying
In their Tower of Ivory, alone
Wail the mute voices of Justice, laughing

Men in superfluous white
Walk the streets below, smiling
Hiding amongst their teeth
The foul breath of Deception, reeking

Children frolic and feast
Upon parental neglect, unwary, hoping
That their day will begin in Peace
While dealers in Hate deceive them, gloating

To begin their journey to the End,
With swords, dreams, unreal things, begging
Together we defeat injustice
And the Torch Bearer comes, crying

And America sleeps the years away
Acting on impulse and neglect, trying
To put the Edict down, while
The Chimes of Freedom, slowly, die, crying

© Copyright 1996 Roger A. Lipe

First appeared in the anthology
"Of Moonlight and Wishes"
Editor's Choice Award
National Library of Poetry
1996

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