The words exchanged, the thoughts explored, these keep
our daily turns a path of growing worth.
The smile unthought, the touch unplanned, these sweep
away our sadness and invite glad mirth.

What will come next, what can become, these fill
our expectations and high keen our hopes.
What might surprise, what should delight, these thrill
our souls and urge our minds to higher slopes.

If silence stays, if small neglects collect,
then separation soon will rule the day.
If gifts are spurned, if others us reject,
all will be faded pretty much away.

And only we desiring noise will hear
the stillness of the ones who disappear.

- Robert Stone, 16 January 2011