For Buddy Rich

Play on

play on

with blurred vision

of fiery sticks

beating

frenzied tattoo about

stretched skins

reverb

orating to masses

of fans held

aloft in rapture

while rhythms

intertwine delicately

and thumping jive

real time kept

intra spection

from clowning

with a sad

mindframe or

without a dream

of my own.

Countertonal bleats

kindertime squeaks

of axe held high

and swing to

and fro

in time to

our screams.