three drumbeats from an amateur hand

the west sent a message on the wind tonight
four drumbeats -- just an amateur hand
flickered like a jazz on the quickening breeze
rousing from a stupor in the late spring haze
three more beats, take one, then a rest
coding then unwinding with an urgent flare
nothing, then sirens from a fire out there
I waited for a message from the west tonight
sensitive and yearning like a nervous virgin
quick to alarm and ready to respond
to the amateur beat of a hand out there
promising some love, or some money somewhere
hand on the trigger and ready to go
down in the hollow where the night winds roll
five drumbeats, just an amateur hand
gimme some loving from a late night band
decoding my fate from a drummer's lame beat
help me I'm aquiver in my solitary cell
straining for the cable from the heavenly host
writhing in delusion like a solitary ghost
straining my ears from a lonely hell
the west sent a message on the wind tonight
four drumbeats -- just an amateur hand
frequencies from a late night band