June 16, 2020 · 2:16 pm
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The Many One – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon

Mish at dVerse has invited us to write a quadrille (44 words) using the word drum. dVerse Poets

Photo: reviewjournal.com

“You can’t make a mistake when you improvise.” Patti Smith

The Many One

The steady predictable rhythm,
rat, tat, tat, tat,
of that single snare drum
unleashed our 
arhythmical froward,
we went into the street,
with pans, tins and bins
and we beat a revolution,
ba-dum, dum, tat, boom,
one tune, many beats
the difference of one.

©Paul Vincent Cannon

56 Comments

Filed under Free Verse, life, mindfulness, poem, protest, Quadrille, quote, relationship

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56 responses to “The Many One – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon”

  1. Frank Hubeny
    June 16, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    Nice last two lines comparing one and many.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply
  2. OIKOS™-Publishing
    June 16, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    Many hands but one goal. Revolution or Evolution? That is the question, Hamlet has not remembered. 😉

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  3. rothpoetry
    June 16, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    Great poem Paul! The drumbeat seems to be the unifying force that actually brings about change!

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  5. rugby843
    June 16, 2020 at 6:23 pm

    One to be listened to I hope.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. Mish
    June 16, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    If only all the hearts could beat to the same drum of equality, kindness, acceptance. It would be a great rhythm.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply
  7. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
    June 16, 2020 at 8:22 pm

    Once you are many you become strong… and drums can call to action

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  8. Liz Gauffreau
    June 16, 2020 at 9:22 pm

    Yes, to the beat of those many drums as one! (I love the Patti Smith quote.)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. msjadeli
    June 16, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    omanotopaeia (sp?) used so well here, Paul.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Truedessa
    June 16, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    When many voices come together the beat gets stronger.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. sanaarizvi
    June 17, 2020 at 12:37 am

    Poignant! ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Astrid's Words
    June 17, 2020 at 2:10 am

    I love the last two lines. It describes the unity of difference and similarity rolled into one.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. calmkate
    June 17, 2020 at 7:06 am

    wow oh wow this is truly sublime Paul, a masterpiece, kudos!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Charis Counselling
    June 17, 2020 at 12:55 pm

    Love this poem – the way you have used one thing to say another

    >

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Amy
    June 17, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    one tune, many beats, hopeful. Love this poem, Paul.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. equinoxio21
    June 17, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    “To the beat of the drum”. (Do you know the song?)
    (By the by, you have a typo: fRoward)
    (Happens to me all the time)
    Cheers

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. purplepeninportland
    June 20, 2020 at 6:59 pm

    Love all the drumbeat sounds in this. Made the poem dance. Also, your quote is from my all-time favorite person. If you’ve never seen her live, you must.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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