Last Bell
by Mark Reep
A clever man would devise some means— great magnets, maybe, positioned just so— whereby the bell be drawn, released by weight of the tides or shine of the bright moon's face. The intervals seem insufficient, but a glassmaker might grind lenses fine enough. Opposing mirrors, multiplied energies, that sort of thing. Vague notions, no more. In dreams he frees rustbound machineries, ancient fires smolder at their hearts. Calmer nights, the smell of the sea still makes his balls ache, and he longs for her deeps. Coward, cuckold, she taunts: So be it. He's not a young man anymore, nor as clever as he once was, or thought. But somebody ought to keep a lamp burning, ring the old bell sometimes, just in case.
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127 words
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Author's Note
Charcoal & Graphite drawing, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". First published in Full of Crow.
Other stories by Mark Reep
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"Calmer nights, the smell of the sea still makes his balls ache, and he longs for her deeps."
holy shit, this is great!
What a great series, Mark. The artwork here is haunting.
Really like the way the written passage opens: "A clever man would devise some means— great magnets, maybe, positioned just so— whereby the bell be drawn, released by weight of the tides or shine of the bright moon's face."
Yes.
Wow. Fave. And reading 15 more times.
Bends the laws of physics and the rules of the heart. Makes one listen all the more.
Well done, Mark.
this is wonderful, i love it. a ray that went straight to my heart. a manly piece & of course the drawing underlines the magic, too.
But somebody ought to keep a lamp burning, ring the old bell sometimes, just in case.
YES -
Deeply poetic, infinitely sad
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In dreams he frees rustbound machineries, ancient fires smolder at their hearts.--This alone is worth reading the piece. It's so well constructed. Nice work. *
Clever, man. Amplifying a great story's impact with a masterful drawing while amplifying a great drawing's impact with a masterful story.
"multiplied energies"
Excellent!
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A jewel. I like the last line best, the one before that second best, etc. This one reaches deep inside. *
Love this. Haunting.