What I remember
is that they were heavy,
the pair of crash cymbals,

and picking up the two
big discs tonight at band
practice reminded me

that parts of me used
to be in much better
shape, younger parts I

never had to think about,
like hands and wrists.
After one rehearsal

it’s clear that I need
a workout plan so that,
by the last concert

of the semester, my
forearms are gonna look
like Wonder Woman’s,

and my hands will
handle those heavy
metal copper crashers

with grace and ease,
smoothly bringing
them together

at just the right
angle to generate
just the right sound

(please, dear
percussion gods)
at just the right time.