I br In synagogues of cedar hills br weathered shepherds prayed br in parabled fields the psalmists br sang as bearded grasses swayed br bowing to a faith as firm as staves br gripped by the sentinels br of flocks whose tinkling softly pealed br a Bethlehem of bells. br br II br Crouched on towers, Romanesque br gargoyles leered in stone, br mocking redemptive requiems br with death's processional drone br while sudden scythe and hooded cloak, br quick to plagues and knells, br stalked the campaniles' gloom br of medieval bells. br br III br Occasion now usurps grace, br the caduceus replaces staves: br clinking cymbals hide in hymns br dry voices lift in naves; br comforts cushion brutish fears, br pulpits punish bagatelles, br mere tintinnabulary tales br flap as the tongues of bells.