Half-red, half-yellow, sinewy I grip

With potent gums onto the banister

Of music.

My notes call often desperate retreats

From battle-fields corpse-rich, still dear, still strong,

More passionate than grief, fevered than hatred,

Still dear, still strong, I wail a-down the breeze—

Which raises a poignant odour of putrefaction.

Flute

Though sharp