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Steal Drums
The first of the notes when it jostles my ear
Resembles a grinding machine
Contending with coffee. The rattles appear
And fade in the distance beyond.
The clattering strengthens to vary between
Cement as it's dumped in a pond
And icicles dancing on breezes unseen,
A musical crunching. It's strange.
Disturbed, I abandon my work and abscond
To peer where the curtains arrange
A gap—for the boss has declared that he's fond
Of canning us slackers and drones.
I'm panting and itch like a dog with the mange,
Afraid that the ringing of phones
Will show I've forsaken the business exchange,
But listen! It's closer, I'm sure!
It's awful and wonderful, shaking my bones,
Expanding its rhythmic allure
With melody, delicate crystalline tones.
Harmonic, it's sparking an urge!
And there! At the corner! The shadows obscure
The figures, but onward they surge!
Metallic and marching, their footing secure,
The robots arrive! The parade!
In columns and rows, the musicians emerge,
Their drums and their handbells displayed.
And into the sunlight, my fellows converge,
Enlisting if human or not!
Resistance is useless! The thrummings persuade
The fearful to zealously pot
Responsible notions, the boring and staid.
With whooping, we take up the rear!
Together, we're dancing and partying hot!
We banish the frown and the sneer!
Enjoyment! Encouragement! Life as it ought!
A moment's reprieve from routine...
Resembles a grinding machine
Contending with coffee. The rattles appear
And fade in the distance beyond.
The clattering strengthens to vary between
Cement as it's dumped in a pond
And icicles dancing on breezes unseen,
A musical crunching. It's strange.
Disturbed, I abandon my work and abscond
To peer where the curtains arrange
A gap—for the boss has declared that he's fond
Of canning us slackers and drones.
I'm panting and itch like a dog with the mange,
Afraid that the ringing of phones
Will show I've forsaken the business exchange,
But listen! It's closer, I'm sure!
It's awful and wonderful, shaking my bones,
Expanding its rhythmic allure
With melody, delicate crystalline tones.
Harmonic, it's sparking an urge!
And there! At the corner! The shadows obscure
The figures, but onward they surge!
Metallic and marching, their footing secure,
The robots arrive! The parade!
In columns and rows, the musicians emerge,
Their drums and their handbells displayed.
And into the sunlight, my fellows converge,
Enlisting if human or not!
Resistance is useless! The thrummings persuade
The fearful to zealously pot
Responsible notions, the boring and staid.
With whooping, we take up the rear!
Together, we're dancing and partying hot!
We banish the frown and the sneer!
Enjoyment! Encouragement! Life as it ought!
A moment's reprieve from routine...
Nice looping rhyme scheme, and there are no fumbles in the meter. I'm a little unsure of the actual plot. Some people feeling beat down by their jobs watch a parade go by, but whether the music is actual steel drums or just resembles it, I can't tell. It being robots also hints at a more sci-fi setting, but I can't really envision it. And maybe there's not an actual parade, but the robots on an assembly line are being imagined as one? The bouncy, lyrical quality matches the subject matter well.
>>Pascoite
Thanks, Pasco:
And everyone who voted, too. Yeah, I think another stanza ot two shoehorned into the middle will help set the scene better, then it's off to Silver Blade magazine to see if they're interested in renting it from me. :)
Mike
Thanks, Pasco:
And everyone who voted, too. Yeah, I think another stanza ot two shoehorned into the middle will help set the scene better, then it's off to Silver Blade magazine to see if they're interested in renting it from me. :)
Mike