Playing the Game

Ever consider the game of pinball?

It’s not unlike life, you know, the

helter-skelter side-to-side to side,

the frantic the ups and downs.

The next steel ball, so round and small,

the plunger shot up the chute and out

is mine, springing forward, swinging back

and forth, careening off one bumper, then

the next—bing! bing! bing! It’s a game

meant to be played, you know, that lone

steel ball left then right, up then down,

bouncing around out of control, fore-

fingers reflexively pressing the flippers,

batting it back for dear life, scoring point

after point—bing! bing! bing! This game

can be such a frustrating thing. Gravity,

my friend. It’s all about the incessant

schlepping around, trying to stay on the

field of play while on the inevitable slide

down. It’s your turn now. Remember,

keep your eye on the ball. Bat it back up

again, and again as long as you can—bing!

bing! bing! Down the chutes and another

steel ball pops up onto the ramp and out

of the gate onto mayhem’s obstacle course

again. Jostling the machine doesn’t help.

Tilt! Game over. I told you so. I did the same

damn thing myself. Oh no, but you wouldn’t

listen to me, would you? You’re not the first

one to play this game, you know.

Chris Hanch 12-29-18