Variations on a Form

A venerable poet once advised me not to be satisfied with a short poem but to keep on (re)writing it to see what happens. I suppose it's a way of interrogating the form of an utterance - of particular interest to poets but also, one would hope, to readers. So:

All the leaves fell from the tree
A slight breeze bothered the remainder

All the people left the city
Those who were left sat down to talk

All the rooms are occupied
I suppose she could squat down in the yard

All the drink in the house is gone
I have a half-bottle of ouzo somewhere

All that could be done was done
Within reason

All the seats are taken
– Except that electric chair