A Single Note

A single note, through silence, floats,

Resounding in the ears of those

Who listen keenly for the sounds

That swirl, and dance, and shower down,

Inspiring in the faintest heart

A love of beauty, light, and art.

Lonely note is joined ‘ere long

With thunderous rolling of the drum, 

And surging strings on air take flight

And hang aloft like stars alight;

Their motion keen wraps up the soul

In thoughts of deeds done long ago.

Now loudly calls the trumpet tone,

Amid the melody now sprung

And grown to fulness in the ear

Of all those, rapt, who listen here,

Whose minds are treading distant shores

Where music brings them, evermore.

Alas, the song must soon abate,

And melody begin to fade,

Like sunset, sending earth to sleep,

To dream in darkness, long and deep;

What power has such simple mote,

As melody from one lone note.