Starting and Stopping
Stapping and Storting
Stopping and Starting
You cannot stop until you start
But the Starting’s still the Stopping’s part
For you don’t know you’ve started until you have stopped
In the lane where the Starters stop for your start
When with a puff and a start you stop all the same
And the Starters’ stop lands square as your blame
Though you never started to stop –
You set out to start –
But a Stopper is what you started out as
And are stuck no matter how much you start
Or stop, keeping time with the Starters
Now that they’ve swept you up in a Starter’s heap
You’re a Stopper until you give up your feet.
Morning's Early Dark 