Bell(e) Tower Showdown

Jul 01, 2026

Before her face, I fall to my knees*

Silent, her hands draw upon noon

Her voice extols,

Ten…eleven…hammer strikes alloy

Red dust

Motionless in midair

Twelve

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Draw!

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Silver barrel

Glint of yellow sun

Cylinder rotates

Thirteenth report

Black hat crumples

Dust to dust

Hot lead poisoning

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Ninjastroni 2026

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*Thanks to SciFiVirteleon for tagging me in the “Any line is your first” chain that prompted this poem.