1- The bells rang free on Stephen’s night, yet,
2- after the snow fell, their sound was muted.
3- Attendees had long since escaped
4- the oaken, wooden pews of Saint Bethel
5- and returned to hearth and home, relieved.
6- The service had children, rosy cheeked,
7- extolling the virtues of virtue in song
8- and elders smiling the remembrances of ago.
9- Stephen was there in his wedding suit,
0- held closely by Annalee and her wandering tears.

1- The bells rang free on Stephen’s night, yet,
2- after the snow fell, their sound was muted.
2a– Flattened tones rolled above the hills,
2b- alerting beast and man to his event.
3- Attendees had long since escaped
4- the oaken, wooden pews of Saint Bethel,
4a- they shook hands, exchanged nods,
4b- whispered the words of human bonds,
5- and returned to hearth and home, relieved.
6- The service had children, rosy cheeked,
7- extolling the virtues of virtue in song
7a- not knowing the meaning nor caring
7b- but understanding their importance to others
8- and elders smiling the remembrances of ago,
8a- when live was more than simply the next breath.
9- Stephen was there in his wedding suit,
9a- black tuxedo with satin stripes down the legs,
0- held closely by Annaleee and her wandering tears,
0a- as he lay grandly in the white pearl coffin,
0b- bearing the smile she swore she would never forget.

1- The bells rang free on Stephen’s night, yet,
2- after the snow fell, their sound was muted.
2a– Flattened tones rolled above the hills,
3- Attendees had long since escaped
4- the oaken, wooden pews of Saint Bethel,
6- The service had children, rosy cheeked,
7- extolling the virtues of virtue in song
8- and elders smiling the remembrances of ago,
8a- when live was more than simply the next breath.
9- Stephen was there in his wedding suit,
9a- black tuxedo with satin stripes down the legs,
0a- as he lay grandly in the white pearl coffin,