The Drums Speak in Piedmont Park

Watched a group of drummers playing at a park. Was moved by the energy of the drums and how the people gathered around reacted to the drummers.

Da
Dah-dah-dah
Da

Wait for it

Da
Dah-dah-dah
Da

Goes the drums
African drums
Piedmont Park on a
Sunday evening

The rhythm pulsates
and I pulsate
We lock it
the rhythm and me
We sooo lock it

Hula hoop swinging
hips swaying
to a hypnotic count of four
Is she sashaying to keep
the hoop on the hips
or is the hoop
an adornment to

accentuate her rhythmic pulse

Right foot up, press it down to the earth
left arm swinging back
Left foot up, press it down to the earth
right arm swinging back
Wayyyy back and back and back
to Congo Square, New Orelans

Yes, Dr. John I hear you now
The drums called you
You traveled from the bayou
and brought the ancestors
and now they dance
in our circular square

Piedmont Park has been transformed

We are all here
Called here, enticed here, romanced here
Those drums are loving us
They must be loving us
Only a lover can make us feel this good

Time can't kill the soul Dr. John
And the two centuries that have passed
since your hands commanded a call
from your drum
has not silenced you

There is a universal language
A soul's language Dr. John
It discards words
for words are regional
limited by local understandings
Language must be understood by every soul
This language must communicate
through the sub-conscious
to be understood by all consciousness
This language is music
spoken by the voice of these drums

rat-a-tat-tat
rat-a-tat-tat

In union they sing
drummers hands swing

I wanted one day to visit Congo Square
The drums taught me
the square is not a place
but a space

And Piedmont Park was transformed