Susan Marie La Vallee
ONE HELL OF A NOTE

When the little drummer boy
drummed up the stairs
straight through the gate
to stand before God,
he said,
'I played my best for you.'
And God replied,
'Sorry son,
but your best wasn't good enough.'
When the poor boy heard this
he and his drum grew sad.
They turned around.
They climbed down.
They did the math:
'I was told to come.
I came.
Mary nodded.
The baby smiled.
The ox,
the lambkin
liked my style.
It doesn't make sense.'
Regardless,
the drummer
packed the drum up.
He packed it all up.
'Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum.'

Susan Marie La Vallee lives in a small seaside town on the windward side of Oahu with a cat, a bird and a tropical fish. Originally from Santa Monica Ca she relocated there in 1987 and continues to teach English. Her first chapbook 'Memoirs for Mother' was released by Birnham Wood Graphics in 2003.


 

 

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