-for Nicholas Green inspired by the Children's Bell Tower more ancient than the granite the marine layer blown by cherry blossom scented winds reaches a reverential tendril to softly ring the Italian bells hung so far from home. Nicholas,can you hear them can you hear the bells singing your name? puka shells, abalone, bamboo and other ancestors murmur together a soft chorus in the gnarled limbs of the Monterey Cyprus Nicholas when they sing, can you hear the apologies from those who could not save you? A quail calls from the scrub the piercing cry of a mother seeking its young. Nicholas did you hear the grief from those that loved you those who still speak your name? A ground squirrel scuttles in dried pine needles knocking small pebbles into discordant notes until a solitary finch softly hushes all with it’s sweet hymn to the creeping cherry wind and pounding ocean tides. Nicholas, in the rhythmic Pacific, the rhythm of peace, can you hear heartbeats hear those you saved? The tall tower bell chimes calling the lost soothing the grieving reminding even the ancient marine layer to tread softly this is sacred ground Nicholas, as long as the cherry winds blow As long as the pacific tide flows the bells will continue to sing for you Nicholas, please tell us, you hear them.
