This is Jacob's drum

how he beats on it how he fights on it

how he splits every crack of the house
how he booms
how he slams
hair wet-feathered sweat gathering
red-face Jacob throwing his money down
all on the drum his one number
beating repeating

O Jacob

don't let go of it
don't let anyone take your drum
don't let anyone of all of them
who want you to be drumless
beating your song on nothing
Jacob they'd do it
believe them

it's time they say

to put your drum away
do you remember the glow-worm Jacob?

how we looked and nearly touched it
but you didn't want to hurt it?
I thought it was electric
some trash a child dropped
some flake of neon
stuck to a rock

don't put your finger on the light

you said and I stood still then
glow-worm Jacob remember it
I had the word but it was you
who told me it was living

and now I say to anyone

don't touch Jacob's drum