Boys

They jiggle it, fidget it,
Twist it, poke it,
Pound it, beat time on it,
Stomp all over it;

They can turn up the volume on even a book—
Spine goes squack
Pages flabble flabble flabble

If it won't at least chirp
When you smack it on the head
You can never be quite sure about it:

Boys, banging on the world, make it sing.

Copyright © 2006 Bill Bly All rights reserved
from Runes
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission