The Games We Play

Silly games we play

on the game board

of life…

under the pretense

of irritable hushes…                

Silly games we play

on the game board

of life…

under the pretense

of irritable hushes…

and the stubborn                

disingenuous excuses.

The games we play

as if we were twelve

remain with us and

cost us precious time

that neither of us

have to waste…

We move like pieces

and buy hotels or

rent rooms for the night

and play the games

only to hurt from

the loneliness,

self pity and confusion.

The games we play

are not as fun

as they used to be

when we were young,

because there’s so little time

left to enjoy them.

The games we play

are not games at all

but rather

the lives we

choose to live.

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

November 16, 2010
Photo: Brookgreen Gardens, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - January 24, 2009

Reviews

[Eileenws]

I grew up in 1960s, the book and song "Games People Play" was popular at that time. I thought of Joe South as I was reading this. Eileen

[Rose of Gondor]

Our lives really are like gameboards, aren't they? And we're really just playing this big game of monopoly, one that lasts for years and years. Exquisite poem. Really makes you think! I love it.

[dead man talking]

cor really louvley allan ,you talented young man

[An owl on the moon]

Your metaphor speaks so deeply into us... and yes.. no matter the age, we all play games that bring pain and suffering.. to us and others... May we learn a higher set of rules to lift us up.

[?]

So, so very true!!
and the last stanza says it all, what a perfect ending for this.
I was thinking about this very thing not too long ago. Those games are just not as fun as they used to be.

[Mark]

The crux of this poem is found in the last stanza: "...the lives we choose...".
Not a soul here has NOT misrepresented themselves at one time or another--maximized largely illusory qualities, obfuscated glaring flaws, for short term gain. The Big Answer to human happiness is HONESTY. But our Vanity and our Selfishness and our indwelling, all-conquering Shame seem somehow always to come to the fore and repress any momentary nobler urges we might have felt, so that we persist in repeating the same old self-destructive patterns. But that we could see the Bigger Picture, and learn from our mistakes, Unhappiness need NOT be the eternal commonality to our lives.

[Sukriti Suki]

The end nails it...totally. This is so complete....this is soo good.

[Richielee]

Allen this is so good and so true,intelligently written and an honour to read

[Muse]

The games we play
as if we were twelve
remain with us and
cost us precious time
that neither of us
have to waste…

You just keep getting better and better at this Allen. Favorited!

[WindSong]

I absolutely love this poem. It's very detailed and poetic with a lot of sentiment and longing invloved. Excellent work!

WindSong