Learning To Drum | Poem

 
LEARNING TO DRUM

 
my drum is a djembe
goon doon pa
one piece of rosewood
goon pa ta doon
goon pa ta doon
hollowed by hand
into an hourglass
hallowed by use into a voice
goon doon pa ta
goon doon pa ta
talking drum with goatskin head
goon pa ta pa
goon pa ta pa
goon pa ta pa
when I play
the drum makes voices that reverberate
the heat of my hand releases the smell of the goat
goon ta pa doon pa ta
goon ta pa doon pa ta
my hands are slow and clumsy now
but I have breath and my heart beat
I will learn
goon doon goon ta pa doon
goon doon goon ta pa doon
up the river
into the heart of lightness
ta pa goon doon
pa ta doon goon
ta pa ta doon
pa ta pa goon
each beat
right and left
bass and tone and clap
has its own name
and its affect
theta alpha alpha beta
theta alpha alpha beta
the other drums lend their voices
goon pa ta pa ta doon
goon pa ta pa ta doon
trance joy and community will follow
trance joy and community will follow

- Ken Peters
 
 

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