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Smoke Signals

Drum beats
From far off
The cry goes up
Fire! Fear! Foes!
Come!
Quickly!
Come and help!
Come and save!

Yet we read of the warrior
Who stood on the hill
And did not save the city
Because the sound of the bells
Was carried away
By the wind

All the bells rang
The din was an uproar
The city imperiled
Implored for aid
But none was forthcoming
Because the bells rang in vain

Like the wisps of so much smoke
That ascend up to heaven
But are blown away
Tattered by winds
And never reach the intended eyes
Of the one who could
Do so much

If only the signals reached...

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