In the dark down
of the tower only the cord
catches light, back and forth
while the bell is ringing

Immediately people flock
to the shouting secret
There is news, the latest news
and they comment on the rope

(decent people are unmasked
  their additional interests revealed
  and underground networks
  unraveled)

but they are particularly
curious about the hands
pulling the bell
there in the dark, down

in the tower, inside
the mind
that cannot be forced
to be silent

After that, the fresh breeze
from the louver holes soon blows
away, the clear sky becomes overcast
and people go

their separate ways again
after the solemn agreement
that it will never, ever
happen again