I played a little flute

I played a little flute, they didn't seem
To hear.  I played a little louder but
The fanfare still was over there.  Their theme
Remained themselves, their wealth, their fear, their gut.

I tried a bugle, something coarser, pitched
To capture here and now, attention! Stop!
But you would think they all had earplugs, switched
To cancel, making bugle waves a flop.

I mastered tuba just in time to send
My message way down low, a rumble meant
To imitate a quake, and maybe lend
Some gravitas to saying, earth is spent.

But no one listened. Now I play my flute
To cheer myself, and wonder, who's the brute?