August 20: A Sort of Runic Rhyme

For three long nights refurbished bells have rung,

To gather in the teeming congregation.

Enchanting melodies the choir has sung

Above the thrilling tintinnabulation.

In ninteen ninety-six these bells first tolled,

And then again in ninteen ninety-nine,

Having been cast from a Parisian mold,

They spent a dozen years in redesign.

We postulants shall toil lengthy days

That we might justify the keen promotion

And faith in our spectacular display

Of hope and love and personal devotion.

If these first nights...