From the temple bell
a sound unheard by mortals
leaks into the stars.
Cold December night—
carolers at my front door
sing while jingling bells.
Into its shadow
a bell releases one note—
autumn loneliness.
Autumn loneliness:
within its shadow the bell
gathers one more note.
Into emptiness
that no ringing bell can fill,
a blackbird enters.
Mark M. Redfearn 