Not all can claim attention at one time
and so a waiting burst may calm appear
until the movement moment sparks sublime
or thwarted mimes unruly patterns drear.

Too much will dull the fullest day of charms
and so the discharge may not satisfy
when battle building cries demand more arms
or savage loss unwanted salves apply.

But much or little will have come in play
and so determined how the last must be
a dreaming how another piper pay
or thoughts of what again we will not see.

A cycle -- still, excited, calm -- completes
the urge to life insistent drumming beats.

- Robert Stone, 23 January 2011