THE BALLARD OF J DRUMMER

In year one-nine-nine-six-o-one (the last numeral was upside down), Johnny Drummer came to the outskirts of town.

People came out and shouted at him. Some people came out and shouted at him, "Say, show us your sticks." Then they went back to their computer tricks.

He'd hit a town with no life, to begin, where they forgot the facts. Two sticks make up a cross. Why is it always this way? Why do they always have to say, "Hey, Johnny, get out of the way."

He looked in the mirror and said, "I am not him." He stood outside a bar and raised the nerve to go in. The window hosted at least 45 men. Wondered which one was waiting for him. And the boy at the machine meant him no harm, but to him the boy was staring again at him. The rhythm over in his head again.

Men, boys and girls! Don't ever follow the path of being hard and tough when your heart is soft.