Paper,
Rock,
Lizards.

Paper covers Rock.
Rock breaks Lizards,
Lizards cut Paper.

He played,
he played.
All day,
and they let him.

Paper covers Rock,
with cigarette ash dangling,
with a squint against the smoke,
with a secret, silent dread
of when,
again,
Rock breaks Lizards.

Lizards cut Paper,
undulating spikes,
in his mind,
dinosaur,
wiggling in his mind’s hand,
one eyebrow head-band,
nose pressed against the game,
played the same as dinner on
the metal tray
every day,
every day.

Partner yes?
Partner no.
Players drawn from never-land,
incessant rhythmic hand to
count the
one-two-three,
1 2 3,
one two three,
wince two three,
grin two three,
wince two three,
grin two three.

Tommy, Tommy
time to eat,
Tommy time to move those feet,
to the dining hall,
two three,
shuffle two,
shuffle two,
Paper covers Rock.

Slipper flop linoleum,
shuffle two shuffle two,
Rheumy eyes obscure from view
the hallway white,
the home away from home away
from silent fright when,
Rock breaks Lizards.

Play room day room,
Paper covers Rock.
Wire in the glass in door,
visitors that come no more
for Paper, Lizards, Rock.

Fear fear Rock.
Oh dear O dear,
Rock breaks Lizards,
every day
every day.

11/07/2005

Posted on 11/07/2005
Copyright © 2025 Timothy Somers