Haibun Monday, and winter is bringing snow and frigid weather to many of us. I am reminded of the story of an old cemetery on what was known as Dead Man's Hill. Submitted to dVerse on 1/31/22.
SAVED BY THE BELL
A winter wind blows across the deserted cemetery on the hill. The headstones are from the 1890s, and legend has it the cemetery is from the days when, for reasons unknown, people believed occasional burials were pre-humously and some were buried in haste. In order to prevent this dreadful demise, the solution was to tie a string around a finger of the dear departed that led up to a bell attached to the end. Should there be any movement, the bell would ring and they would be rescued. Hence the term “dead ringer” and “saved by the bell”. Occasionally, a person would be employed to watch the cemetery at night and listen for bells, hence the term “graveyard shift”. These days, young lovers like to park near the cemetery on dark and wintry nights. Some say they’ve heard the distant ringing of a bell.
while on watch in the graveyard
a faint ring is heard
is it for whom the bell tolls
Excellent graveyard haibun
ReplyDelete"Hence the term “dead ringer” and “saved by the bell”."
ReplyDeleteREALLY??? How do you even know this stuff, Bev? That's so cool - I'm so glad you taught me this - thank you :)
Sincerely,
David
Google "dead ringer" and the story is there in much more detail, David. I confess a lifelong interest in the mysterious and unexplained...like the Easter Island heads and the Westbury White Horse.
DeleteInteresting going back to the origins of those sayings
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
For goodness sake, Bev. You linked to my Ted Hughes word list prompt but didn't do the prompt or anything relating to it. Why would you do that? I'll be deleting your link.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you feel that way. I'm interested. In your list butt can't promise ro respond every week. I co administer two blog challenges so time is limited
DeleteIt's very simple. If you don't write for the list, don't link to it! Time is not the point, so stop deflecting. "So sorry you feel that way"??? Wtf is wrong with you? Stay away.
DeleteI'v been nothing but kind to you, Shay. Your vitriol amazes me. Go in peace.
DeleteGoosebumps! A vivid tour of the macabre! Brava!
ReplyDeleteThe young lovers in the graveyard may well be ringing their bells Bev — more a sound of life than death.., 😉
ReplyDeleteThat was incredibly fun and educational. I never heard of those bells. But as a former boxer, I must tell you. I think the phrase "Saved by the Bell" came from elsewhere. See: https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/saved-by-the-bell.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for that URL, Sabio. I enjoyed reading it!
Delete“dead ringer” and “saved by the bell”
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining these terms.
Years ago when my husband was in the Air Force, he was in signals and often worked "the graveyard shift". I never thought to find where it came from so thanks for that. Thanks for sharing those explanations.
ReplyDeleteHence the term “dead ringer”
ReplyDelete“saved by the bell and the
“graveyard shift”.
Love the humour in this Bev! Not easy to create humour from a serious matter as death
Hank
Funny and horrifying at the same time. Amazing where some of our expressions originated.
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting, I never really knew where those terms came from.
ReplyDeleteA very engaging Haibun, Beverly. I heard stories about this before, but I really like the way you present these terms.
ReplyDeleteImagining those bells ringing in the dead of winter... Haunting haibun! Not sure if you've watched Game of Thrones but they had some creepy zombies called Winter Walkers.
ReplyDeleteThat was very interesting. I didn't know the origins of those sayings until now!
ReplyDeleteHa, yes, The old ways. I love how the lovers go out there and hear the faint ring, the question remains, are the lovers saved by the bell? delightful read Beverly
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that's where 'saved by the bell' came from! Fascinating history lesson Bev. (How frightening to be buried alive 😱).
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about that concept... I think there were many reasons for a hasty burial, but this seems a little bit too hasty.
ReplyDeleteooh what an eerie reality, I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteI recall one six yo in our hospice made every patient, staff and guest come say goodbye to his mother. I asked him why, and he said "Mummy is never rude, if she ignores that many people then I know she is dead!"