the neighboring kids
amassed their bikes
and wagons and scooters
and any other kind of steel
structure with or without wheels
piling them up across
a southside driveway
they stood behind their
improvised barricade
lifting toy weapons and fists
high into the air
screeching indecipherable
insults at an enemy
hiding behind mere curtains
november two thousand thirteen
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
promises of glory
took you away from me
leaving me helpless
and grasping for understanding
exactly what went wrong
i sit in my chair and recall the days
watching you kill mercilessly
on the television screen
watching your back
aiding and abetting your safety
from the mindless enemy
those games now collect dust
as i wander through the house
murmuring to myself
for my stupidity
november two thousand twelve
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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