✨ That Bell in Your Hand

in times of great sorrow ...

That Bell in Your Hand

After weeks of brilliant sun, Delft skies,
petals in the air, petals in the gutters,
today dawned grey. Sudden gusts

of wind knocked pollen from the pines.
Then I heard the voice in me that’s silent
except in times of great sorrow

or great excitement say
Bring it Bring it Bring it! So I dug
through the closet and found the bells,

handed one to everyone I’ve ever loved.
That’s why you have that bell in your hand.
It’s why we’re out here dancing with the dead.

—Catherine Abbey Hodges

✨ This poem is offered in honor of our March theme: Dance & Dancers

From Empty Me Full: Poems, Gunpowder Press, © 2024. Used by permission of the poet. Photo by Debby Hudson, Creative Commons, via Unsplash.