The Drum

Here, the man said

Sitting me down in his shed

I wondered what he would say

In the fading light of day

I sat quiet and still

Noticing how his eyes seemed to fill

With heartfelt tears

That quickened my thoughts to fears

He sat by my side

And told me these were tears of pride

Because he was giving me a gift

And that gave my spirits a lift

He told me that when I carried this

It was not only with a sense of bliss

But with a certain weight

That would change my gait

He stood up again

Going into the shadows, and then

Came back with something not large yet not small

But in the dark I could barely make it out at all

He gave the lantern a light

And the shadows went back to the night

And in his calloused but gentle hands

Was the intertwining of wooden bands

In just above a whisper, he began

To tell me the history of our clan

I knew it all quite well

But not this pride that had begun to swell

It took up every space in my chest

As I realized that this time was not like the rest

Because I had a place in this tale

Though just what, I couldn't yet tell

As he talked his voice got lower

And nearing the end, he said his words slower

Perhaps this was the climax of it all--

That a responsibility on my shoulders would fall

He said that every beat came from the people's heart,

That the beat had existed from the very start

It was in every fiber of my being

And colored everything that I was seeing

This precious ancestor soul

Could make a nation whole

And heal the chasm of broken trust

That had turned the rich soil of our hurts into dust

I grasped and stored every word away

Not knowing that there would be a day

When they would ring in my ears

Sobering me after my many aimless years

When he gave me that hollow trunk covered with sheep's skin

I could hear my own heartbeat within

And he told me that hearts and drums combine

As souls and stories intertwine

And as my fingers along the surface trailed

I felt that everything else in comparison paled

To what I had just now learned

And the way my heart suddenly yearned

The silent voices and quiet cries

Pleaded for freedom from the lies

And I determined that if they were to be set free

Then the person to act would have to be me

Author's Note

I was listening to The Piano Guys' African version of Paradise, and, well, this is the result. There's something that I want to say about ownership, cultures, and pride, but I can't really figure it out--which is usually a sign that it's too soon to tell.

Anyway, what are your thoughts and reactions?

Reviews

[luviva]

ok this is such a great poem.
i didnt know what to make of it at the start,
but it is a great one when you read to the end. love the recognition of your role and responsibility at the end. just feel like thats what the modern society lacks now. if only anyone knew that there was a part they had to play in society things would be so much better.
i love the way this sarted out till the climax when it was suppose to be dawned onto you... u know, the stories of the ancestors and how they lived.
real great enjoyed it from top to bottom!!

[Siren]

thanks so much for your words! I really appreciate them.

[luviva]

yo welcome!!

[Enid Blake]

I thought it was very creative/imaginative and very gentle somehow...

[Siren]

thank you!

[Sami Khalil]

The silent voices and quiet cries

Pleaded for freedom from the lies

And I determined that if they were to be set free

Then the person to act would have to be me.
My faves in this beautiful , well written poem...:)

[Siren]

thank you so much for your words!

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome...:)

[MOON]

Lovely flowing write.

[Siren]

thank you!

[Salar Majak]

:), i felt it, and Piano guys are AWSOME! beautiful poem filled with emotion, i love it, really love it, greatly done!

[Siren]

thank you so much!

[quinfinn]

oh, i absolutely loved this, Siren. it held me spellbound throughout and flowed like warm milk, so smoothly and went down so easily for perfect digestion. what a terrific story to share and thank you! by the b y, if you're interested, this reminds me of a group in England years ago who played some very traditional tribal music from their native Africa and mixed it with modern sound....look for Osibisa on youtube, one album is called wcyaya....enjoy!

[Siren]

thank you, quinny! I will definitely check them out.

[quinfinn]

you'll thank me later