On the Pier
Poemata LXIII
He skipped the stone across the still water Its path in rings rung out behind Five and six and seven, and caught her Gazing out upon its line-- "It's like this," he said as the stone splashed; Glancing to see her give a smirk, "Even after the checks are cashed, "Eighty percent of it does no work." He threw another stone, "And that" "Twenty percent? Even that too--" It skipped, flashing-- "Is full fat" "With eighty percent that just don't do." "But if you cut the eighty," she said, "Aren't you left with just the best?" The stone plopped; she tilted her head-- And smirked! "I think surely you jest." Grabbing another he belted out-- "Once the cost cutting starts, my dear--" And flung it hard-- "have no doubt;" And in sunlight it seemed to disappear; "There is no end to it; for enow "It is that atoms are mostly naught-- "So are men, except we allow "That between life and death we're caught, "And so the world divides down without end "For those who must count such things--" And a skip-- "We too blend "Into the background," the water sings-- "And are mostly without value "Whether in coin or cant alone--" And then a splash! "I need not tell you "How man is like a skipping stone."