The Bellman

He rang it in the marketplace,

He rang it in the street,

Old Silas was the Bellman

In the village of Purfleet,

He’d rung the bell for sixty years,

He’d rung the bell for war,

He’d rung it for the harvest

But would ring the bell no more!

 

The Mayor and all his councillors

Had met within the Hall,

Discussed the ponderous questions

That would bear upon them all,

Their gowns were trimmed with ermine

And the mayor, he wore his chain,

The solemn Majesty of State

Was heard in their refrain!

 

‘We must dismiss the Bellman,’

Said the hoary Abel Creep,

‘He rings it at the strangest times,

I just can’t get to sleep!’

‘Agreed,’ said Horace Fumblewit,

It’s more than time enough,

I thought that he’d be dead by this…’

‘Hear hear!’ said Toby Gruff.

 

They called him to the chamber

And delivered him the score,

Old Silas staggered back in shock,

They’d rocked him to the core!

He raised the bell above his head

And gave a mighty ‘Clang!’

Then jumped up on their table

Where they sat, their ears rang!

 

‘I’ve been the Bellman sixty years,

My father taught me then,

His father went before him, rang

The bell for Inkerman;

But way, way back before that time

My forebears had a stake,

They warned of the Armada,

Rang the bell for Francis Drake!’

 

He stomped along their table

In his coarse old hob-nailed boots,

He silenced their authority

To rule in mean disputes,

For every time a councillor

Would seek to raise his voice,

The bell would drown his utterance,

It gave them little choice!

 

‘There’s been a Bellman in this burgh

Right back, before King John,

You think you petty underlings

Can rule once I am gone?

Your ancestors lie buried in

The gravel by the Church,

While mine live on in history…

I’ll knock you off your perch!

 

He raised the bell and made it peal,

It rocked the ancient hall,

The walls shook with vibrations

‘Til the roof began to fall,

The beams came crashing down in a

Scenario from Hell,

‘Your time is not forever,’ cried

The man who rang the bell!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Mark]

The message seems to me to be that, whenever the marble-mouthed mutterers begin to sling their elf-supposed weight around, we need to have one with his feet firmly grounded in history, to sound that unmistakably clear knell of truth, which will shatter the illusions ego-born.

[David Michael]

Great fun! I don't know if you had any deep meanings in this - based on some of the comments there certainly could be - but I just had an Irish jig in my head the whole time, singing the tale of th' ol' Bellman. Aye, it's me favourite! lol, yeah. Something like that. Anyways, on that note, there were a few spots (not going to go back through and find them as it was a bit long for that) where the rhythm could use a little help. Mostly a great flow, but just a handful of spots. Also a couple wording things: "I'll knock you off your perch" seemed a little out of context. I could see him saying something like that, it fit his character, but it took me by surprise. Perhaps you wanted to jar the reader slightly, as maybe he jarred them. Just a thought. Also, "Scenario from Hell" seems very out of style for this poem. I really would suggest altering that. But otherwise, great!

[Octob3r Star]

Just amazing! This tale was incredible.

[Sugar Plum ♥]

Oh great! sounds so original, classical stricture, of long poem-story! I liked the way you lead the reader to the end, with misxture of emotions, and wondering ...

[Bidu Ibrahim]

Great piece! Nice job and thanks for sharing.

[Kenneth The Poet]

Quite the piece, one of your best.

[Marie]

You're writing ballads, and they're actually good ballads.

[Susanna F]

This one is quite resounding. So true!

[Revolutionary]

Perfect.I wish he would come ring his bell round here.He could ring it for congress and the house of reps and the FED and the IRS.We coul;d do some ringin

[Manpreet]

I loved the story telling style in your poems. This is yet another great piece!!

[Donald Cole]

wow. for being this long, it kept my attention all along. It kind of make me think of the theme of the robots taking over our society and the resistance portrayed. There is a very good flow here and I love this piece, even for being out of my norm. Good Job!!
Don