in my practice, counting backwards from 5 to 0 with the breath is a way to assess the meditators focus. when thoughts stray, the meditator returns to the number 5 again. i wrote this on a day when i spent most of my meditation counting the number 5 :)
 
knees and seat rooted to the ground like a firmly planted banyan tree
back straight, eyes softly gazing, head upright a mountain is what i’d like to be
wispy clouds lazily pass by ethereal against the pale blue sky
nothing can disturb mountain until mountain questions “why?”
breathing 5, 4, 3 “mountain is solid” but 5 again is counted for that thought
4, 3, 2 “my neck has stiffened” again to 5, “ah, it’s really taut!”
thick clouds shadow mountains’ peak why doesn’t sun burn them all away?
i am the clouds and sky, the wind and sun that come and go, and yet, mountain will stay
 

Namaste