'Round about the time it all fell into place
You were somewhere else, and arrived too late
To truly participate in what everyone else was missing
The reality of.
But then, that was always your skill,
A timely lateness, or rarer,
Arriving ahead of the bell, and leaving
Before the clapper is raised.
Tense might mean something, or might not
When the echo of a ringing bell's
Too light to be heard, and yet,
It's there under your skin in some parts,
And thrumming upon it at others.
Tumourous, though benign, like as not.