Description:
To find the Drum you need to walk to the Mass Ave T entrance that is on the Back Bay side of the street. The drum sits outside the doors of the station. The gray stone is the same as the stone on the low wall that is nearby so that the drum itself blends into the rest of the scenery. Therefore, you probably would not notice it unless you were deliberately looking for it. The face of the stone where the text was engraved has a glossy surface, but otherwise, the rest of the stone is unfinished.
About the Author:
Sharon Cox (Howell) is the author of the poem, Drum. At the time the project was being completed, her resume said that she had been a lifelong resident of Massachusetts and was residing in Roxbury. She had been writing for nearly twenty years and done guest appearances on radio, television, as well as many readings in the surrounding communities. No current information on Sharon Cox's whereabouts or what she is currently working on was able to be found.
Response:
The lyrics are positive and well placed. It speaks about immersing oneself in the music of the world and finding peace. I found it soothing if a bit fluffy. The question I had after reading the poem was: in what ways did the monument reflect the committee's (those who chose it to be there and be made) mission or intention? I felt uncertain about what they wanted their audience to feel, which could be true for all of art, since people react to art differently. However, my uncertainty went beyond that because I felt that it was out of place. In fact, it made me a little bit sad to see the drum sitting all by itself, knowing that no one ever took notice of it.
By Caleb Farrell
