School Was Dismissed Early Today

School was dismissed early today, in tears.

A train, and a flame was extinguished. Two hundred candles, held by students, faculty, staff, and parents, were there, but the flame was extinguished.

Many spoke, but none explained. No lesson was there for teaching.

There was laughter, because the girl laughed through shining eyes. There were tears recalling the laugh.

There were teammates, classmates, friends, teachers, who spoke. None explained.

And when she buries a man, that action concerns me: all mankind is of one author and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated.

Two hundred were there, many never met her.

As therefore the bell that rings a sermon calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come, so this bell calls us all

There's a church a block from the school. The toll was seven at the start....

Who bends not his ear to any bell which upon any occasion rings? but who can remove it from that bell which is passing a piece of himself out of this world?

...and the church's toll was eight at the end.

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Those two hundred gave testimony to Donne, and those who did not speak were, too, diminished.

Two hundred candles lifted into the chilling-cold; In paradisum was thought, not said. The candles were brought down and put out.

Those who did speak could not explain. No lesson was there for teaching.

Then school was dismissed again, today.