NEW DRUM

Coffin

All: People lie awake for grief

People lie awake for sorrow

But people seldom follow joy

Awake from one day to tomorrow.

Solo 1: But say you are but six years old

And wear the clothes that little boys know

And it is Christmas night, and you

Received a drum two hours ago.

You have it in your arms so tight

That you can smell and taste the varnish

Like peppermint,

All: and life’s a thing

Time and handling will not tarnish.

Solo 1: You are ten thousand miles from sleep

All: It is dark and it is quiet;

Solo 1: You have the drumsticks in your fist

And any minute you may try it.

All: May start a drumming that will shake

The bed, the house, the stars outside

Solo 1: And you, until your night gown’s seams

Tauten up and throb with pride.

All: Time stopped for him two hours ago

Solo 1: You lie wide eyed and hear the strum

Of your big heart against the world

Shaped like a red and silver drum.