she gave me

red bongos

for beating hearts day

she stoked my

rhythm fire, the

beatniks just might say

now I’ve grown

a tiki head terrific

with thick quad eyes

and pharaoh whiskers

all beats beatific

slapping rawhide smooth

sound specific

I pound

I thump

I trick a lick

but I don’t wear

my beret

indoors

and I play

when she’s not

indoors