What Is It about Drums?   She turned to me and mouthed the words, What is it about drums? I knew she meant the plumbing of the blood, the headlong irresistible   pounding of the heart, the romance of rhythm, no saying no, you can’t not listen to what this means, this ants-in-the-pants   imperative, this pulse that only comes from music, from this monkey urge to dance. Yes, I whispered, What is it about drums?                                                                       for Marti     © Michael Fleming Brattleboro, Vermont February 2020