The Drummer's Cadence

The Drummer's Cadence

I am a rhythm

junkie my heart beating

beating

            beating

                        beating

a syncopated symphony rushing

and spu---ter---ing in constant

motion I’m not alive

until that kick drum

kaleidoscope  [b     r      e       a      t      h      e     s]   life

into my veins adrenaline

igniting each one into harsh

and frenzied fire.

Emotion transforms

into purely percussive passion

each note pou—pou—pounding

and stinging SLAMMING measure

after tortured measure

against my ribcage

cymbals crash!

with spasmodic rage

singular cracks

and explosions

make the air sizzle

snare and tom pop rrrrrrip

and BELLOW

in seductive succession urging

my bones to follow

their flight and I do follow

caught on the waves

of cadence they’ve created

flying in a state

of rhythmic rapture.

And then, suddenly, out of nowhere,

the riff ends.

all movement                        stops.

I’m left

            aching

                        breath----less

                                    And  b

                                                 r

                                                    o

                                                        k

                                                            e

                                                            n

the silence speaking

nothing      but               {surrender}

original version: 2.2011

latest version: 4.2011