Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht, Dutch
The Origin of the Phrase “Making a Boom Boom,” Before 1933
Watercolor
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MASTERPIECE #3445
Info, or perhaps links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here (archived, if necessary), here, and here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page (Google translated Dutch Wikipedia page has more).
/// He is using his drum as a seat. It
is the place he reads books. He’ll complete it
since he thinks he’s now free
of the Dutch infantry.
The Band Leader just ordered him: “Beat it!”
/// So, the Infantry Drummer is Reading.
The parade that he ought to be leading
will be marching along
to a rhythmless song.
Different drummer is what they are needing.
/// About drumming he hasn’t a glimmer,
so he scans the Percussionist’s Primer.
The men cannot march with ‘im
if he doesn’t have rhythm,
but he skipped half the text; he’s a skimmer.
/// When he finds him, the Band Leader’s sore,
but the drummer can’t fathom what for.
“You deserted the men.
If this happens again,
we’ll be drumming you out of the Corps.”
/// Were he hatless he couldn’t perform.
Shako’s part of his full uniform.
Yes, he knows how it looks,
but it’s stuffed full with books
and in winter it keeps his head warm.
/// Army drummers don’t just play in bands.
In a battle they signal commands.
When they’re not on parade,
orders can be conveyed
so each soldier who hears understands.
/// War is loud and shouts may not be heard,
so they found ways of giving men word
using horns or percussion,
with no need for discussion,
(and for marching, the drum is preferred).
/// If the enemy wanted him dead,
for a kill shot they’d aim at his head.
Yet the rifle shots spanned
clear across No-Man’s-Land,
and they hit his tall shako instead.
/// Rodin sculpted a pair, though few knew,
for the second is rarely on view.
We have all seen “The Thinker,”
and his brother’s “The Stinker;”
who appears to have done Number Two.
/// All day long he is up on his feet.
Plays his drum as they march down the street.
On breaks, books are a treat,
and the drum is his seat.
As a stool, this large drum can’t be beat.