The Talking Drum

A drum with a voice I am Active, proud and can smile Made of cow-hide and wood I can mime and make noise I am here to be hired to shout Provoked I make useful noise Wood is my switch-board Strike me with wooden sticks And I dance for you twisty Cool soothing dance The dances of your heart And sing for you reggae Song of your mind for your joy I am multi-lingual too When given cheese, butter I can cry with the crying When showered with money, milk I can laugh with the laughing A talking drum, I ape my master At times I am deaf and dump Feed me not, I raise my hand not Feed me, I postpone sleep and act For I talk what you talk, And hear what you hear for, Life is a dream full of imitations