The Belfry

Dark is the stair, and humid the old walls Wherein it winds, on worn stones, up the tower. Only by loophole chinks at intervals Pierces the late glow of this August hour. Two truant children climb the stairway dark, With joined hands, half in glee and half in fear, The boy mounts brisk, the girl hangs back to hark If the gruff sexton their light footstep hear. Dazzled at last they gain the belfry--room. Barred rays through shutters hover across the floor Dancing in dust; so fresh they come from gloom That breathless they pause wondering at the door. How hushed it is! What smell of timbers old From cobwebbed beams! The warm light here and there Edging a darkness, sleeps in pools of gold, Or weaves fantastic shadows through the air. How motionless the huge bell! Straight and stiff, Ropes through the floor rise to the rafters dim. The shadowy round of metal hangs, as if No force could ever lift its gleamy rim. A child's awe, a child's wonder, who shall trace What dumb thoughts on its waxen softness write In such a spell--brimmed, time--forgotten place, Bright in that strangeness of approaching night? As these two gaze, their fingers tighter press; For suddenly the slow bell upward heaves Its vast mouth, the cords quiver at the stress, And ere the heart prepare, the ear receives Full on its delicate sense the plangent stroke Of violent, iron, reverberating sound. As if the tower in all its stones awoke, Deep echoes tremble, again in clangour drowned, That starts without a whir of frighted wings And holds these young hearts shaken, hushed, and thrilled, Like frail reeds in a rushing stream, like strings Of music, or like trees with tempest filled, And rolls in wide waves out o'er the lone land, Tone following tone toward the far--setting sun, Till where in fields long--shadowed reapers stand Bowed heads look up, and lo, the day is done.