Stage of Adulation
Around and around like a new red train
The little boy went repeating his name
David, David, David Saul, a new refrain
Sweet as a candle's honey, full of flame
And then as if a bird in sudden flight, he
Rushed to memory and sang aloud again
Boom, boom, boom; boom, boom, I see
Him his repertoire of words making rain.
Again: boom, boom, boom; boom, Johnny
Has a new drum, boom, boom, boom. He
Is happy in the web of speech, the tyranny
Of his tongue subdued to a matter of melody.
He is only two years old, and knows not yet
That drums are played before the cannon
Quakes, candles cuddle moths in flaming death
Nor that his name carry a historic dimension.
All his joy is to sing his name, and race
His heart beating boom, boom, boom, cross
The floor, while salt sweat rinse his face.
He had no gain in life and knew no loss
Mother was the only thing beside his song
That rattled his heart, father was a tree
And to him nothing could break the strong
He desire only mother raised from her knee:
Mother was always bent in prayer, or she
Too sang, longing for dove wings to fly
And he pictured the bird bright in beauty
Climbing a silver strand of light up the sky
But nothing made happy as his own song
David, David, David Saul, or boom, boom
Boom, Johnny has a new drum, a day long
Kite of joy frolicking around the little room.
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