Brass Impulse

I stepped from the brick path onto the packed earth of the lawn border. A brass impulse sprinkler stood anchored into the soil... upright and dormant. At its collar... a pivoting impact arm was coupled to a coiled torsion spring. I halted two inches away. I paused... scanning the notched adjustment wire. With a swift extension of my rigid right hand... I drew the hammer back thirty degrees against spring tension. I released it. The brass arm snapped forward... striking the stop post with a sharp... ringing clatter that resonated into the dirt. I maintained my posture... unblinking... as the vibrations ceased.