The Star Drum
Who’s astonished by the way
stars smell like communion wafers?
Already the galaxy’s priests
have rounded up the runaways.
Whoever has ash on their tongue
is doubly blessed. There once
was a drummer boy
whose drumstick had eyes.
Every star he ever paddled
carried a scent of water.
Whoever speaks in stars
has a steel drum for a heart.
Percussion is a matter of attunement.
…..
This poem is from the book Rucksacks for the Leaf Cat by Dianna Henning (Finishing Line Press), and can be found at https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product/rucksacks-for-the-leaf-cat-by-dianna-henning/
Dianna MacKinnon Henning taught through California Poets in the Schools, received several California Arts Council grants and taught poetry workshops through the William James Association’s Prison Arts Program, including Folsom Prison, Diamond View Middle School and runs “The Thompson Peak Writers’ Workshop.” Publications, in part: Naugatuck River Review 2025; Women in a Golden State, 2025; Visions 2025; The Power of the Feminine, Vol. II 2024; One Art Poetry, 2024; Folkways Press; Mocking Heart Review, 2024; Poet News, Sacramento; Worth More Standing, Poets and Activists Pay Homage to Trees; Voices; Artemis Journal, 2021 & 2022 & 2023; The Adirondack Review; Memoir Magazine;The Tule Review; The Lake, UK; California Quarterly; The Plague Papers, Blue Heron Review,and New American Writing. Nomination by The Adirondack Review for a Pushcart Prize a few years back. MFA in Writing ’89, Vermont College. Recently nominated by Blue Heron Review for a Pushcart for her poem “In the Collage of my Mind/I’m a Simple Design,” her ninth Pushcart nomination 2024. She has a new book Rucksacks for the Leaf Cat by Finishing Line Press due out Jan. 2026. Book publications, Poets Corner Press, Black Buzzard Press, Finishing Line Press & Kelsay Books. Website: www.diannahenning.com
The Paddock Review 