The Children's Bells

     I recently found a book of children's poetry by Eleanor Farjeon in a used bookstore.  All of the poems are great reads, but one in particular stood out to me.  It's simply beautiful, and I just had to share it.  (Oh, and the poem references the first  two lines of the nursery rhyme "Oranges and Lemons":  "Oranges and lemons/Say the bells of St. Clement's.")

The Children's Bells

By Eleanor Farjeon

(When the half-muffled City Bells rang in commemoration of the Bell-ringers who fell in the First World War, the bells of St. Clement Danes could not take part owing to damage.)

Where are your Oranges?

Where are your Lemons?

What, are you silent now,

Bells of St. Clement's?

You, of all bells that rang

Once in old London,

You, of all bells that sang,

Utterly undone?

You whom all children know

Ere they know letters,

Making Big Ben himself

Call you his betters?

Where are your lovely tones

Fruitful and mellow,

Full-flavored orange-gold,

Clear lemon-yellow?

Ring again, sing again,

Bells of St. Clement's!

Call as you swing again,

'Oranges! Lemons!'

Fatherless children 

Are listening near you--

Sing for the children, 

The fathers will hear you.