It's Still Life

And Not Only That, The Girl Had No Rhythm

Third row up, stood at the end,
she draws the tune under
the momentum of breath.

rum pah tumtum

High notes are thin skin,
beyond her reach to hit,
so she answers the lyrics
with those three words —

rum pah tumtum

She’s rehearsed this far below
alto, more toward base. The tone
of a washboard, or a spinning
stone on yellowed pine floors.

rum pah tumtum

And she thinks, boys voices drop
when they’re of age, so why must
I sport this foul range, low
in the bases forever be heard.

rum pah tumtum

But she continues mispronouncing
those chorus words — her instincts
tell her that pa rum pum pum pum
sounds silly and entirely wrong.

for Sunday Whirl. This week’s wordle words: board sport momentum spin high instincts foul three answer hit yellow (and win)