The cymbal player.

The cymbal player. Awaiting the nod of the baton, He holds the burnished steel, And, upon the wrist's flick, Sets his mettle ringing. Meaning loosed from inert round Peals forth in invisible concentries Seeking companion drums to Resonate with, till, Muting the vanishing vibrations, He rests the instruments, Bringing them together in Silent harmony of closure Until the score once more Calls for crescendo. David Linton is Professor of Communication Arts at MarymountManhattan College, where he teaches courses in communication history andtheory, public speaking, and cultural studies. His previously publishedwork includes studies of the media theories embedded inShakespeare's plays, the history of the Luddite movement, thereading behavior of the Virgin Mary, and the social construction ofmenstruation. This is his fourth publication in ETC.