Bells

The bell rang once, a faint tingle; clear, sharp in the cold, numbing air yet strangely muffled in the mist. All heard it, the distant, single; ting, behind the droning prayer. Though not a soul among their midst affirmed each other that they heard. The rope slid by black-gloved fingers while the casket heavily sunk, The vicar’s final mournful word hangs above them all and lingers; another ding, a thudding clunk. Eyes quickly turn towards each other others stare towards the ringing sound. Disturbed unkindness ravens crow above a grave; Elsie’s brother interred beneath this Holy ground; some twenty-seven years ago!