October Storm

Bells on bough,
Once stretching every vein and chlorophyll-green cell to its bursting point--
Now huddled and clustered
Like old bankers in black wool trench coats
Waiting for a bus to work
In a wet, grey London morning.
You hold your head down and companions close,
As if together you will be stronger--
Bearing folded wings against the whipping wind.

Shiver, tremble, quiver.
Vibrate.
Resonate!

Stir the air with frantic circles.
Cling!
Cling by a thread--
Fibers so thin and dry they may
Snap
At any moment.

You hush my hurry,
Shushing louder than any schoolteacher
During an exam.

On inhospitable heights you--
Lonely in community--
Wave, whip, tinkle,
Tolling the untold,
The silent.
Calling, "Courage!"
With mute lips
And loud limbs.

Ring for me,
You hopeless lot.

Ring your melody of bravery
Until your grip is lost,
Strands tearing our mutual tension
To shreds.
And you fall,
Tumbling, in dizzying concentric circles,
Terrified at the void
And lost forever.