floor as gray as the clouds outside

yellow doors we share

our backs are turned toward the wall

and off into space we go and stare

we hear the beat of claps and drums

and walls being thumped with palms held tight

you never hear this during the day

the sound is only heard at night

and if you go look closely

you see people sitting there

with voices raised for better days

even if words don’t bring straight As

the soul that comes from songbirds

is all that one can ever hope

so, lela and ana, play a song

maybe one that we might know