The Church Bell Rings Too Early Poem by RIC BASTASA

the church bell rings too early

the town's electrician
bald and ugly
poor and lonely
he was looking for his wife
who left with another man
taking with her
his only son

he could not eat breakfast
skipped his supper
and would not care for any lunch

and then the church bell tolled
for him
though not as early as he once did it

we shall always remember
grief, lament, the sound of the bell
too sonorous
to remember
lost affections, betrayal, death
and lack of
prayer.