The hand and heart and mind create the sketch
which waits and wills to be at last at large
while watchers know by faith the inner fetch
of action powered by a holding charge.

The tree or lake or face will always change
for life is never fixed and slow decay
unheeding and unyielding shows its range
of steady work below the noisy fray.

The images now caught within the self
are all that will survive in later times
and fill the memory's memento shelf
with joys to soothe the coming lower climbs.

Another moment always is too late
to speak of caring and forget the hate.

- Robert Stone, 29 October 2011