elephant bell

Sounds

Chick-chick-chick

say the raccoons without

and Gong

said the ancient bell, now dusty,

that summoned our chidren

to the dinner table

and grace

when they were littler

it was a daily thing

Traditions die hard. Now the bell is rung once in a while, as a momento for old time's sake, but getting our visiting college-aged young adults to hold the long string and gong the bell before prayers and after, to signal the OK to commence eating dinner, like we used to do, seems to them an act of bygone childhood, an affectation. I think. We still respectfully pause for Denise's well-said prayer, and I remove my horned hat like I always did. Some things never change, or are slow to.

The raccoons peer through our window. Why don't they ring that big bell anymore, they may muse?