Thing a Week 44: War Games

Photo by Lou Levit

With an ocean of players eager to play war games more,
Each year we saw our games became more and more like war.

We were worried, unsure, but they carefully placated us,
While the rest of the wavering world just blatantly hated us.

We’d seen dystopian movies, we’d seen Life’s Achilles’ heel,
But they reassured us firmly, “The movies will not be real!”

The games felt real, so real!— bones cracking, blood oozing, bad bruising,
But we knew that they weren’t, so long as we respawned after losing.

Trading jobs for our premiums freed up mobs making freemiums —
Games became more real — better! — and our gold a taxable medium.

But eventually all dynasties and their players extinguished their flames,
As each year we saw war become more like our games.