The Williamstown Marching Braves Present, “Deja Vu: An American Re-evolution”

I wrote the following poem for Williamstown High School’s 2020 Indoor Percussion Ensemble. In order to make concrete the abstract theme of their show, “Deja Vu,” we decided to explore the existential tension between linear time and cyclical time as it emerges in the repetitions of history. A voice recording of the following poem will be played immediately prior to the start of the music. We feel it really ties the music and its drill visuals together 😎

History may repeat itself
But we can change the ends of time
By rhythmic measure we can cheat
Our origins of their chime
Through deja vu
A rendezvous
With the patterns we abide
We shall return
To freedom’s ring
A cycle
Broken line