A Game of Dice and Rocks

The simple sun sets forth its smile on a lazy afternoon

As the whistling wind breaths deeply in and follows with his tune

The birds of summer here to visit join him with their song

Set against the buzz and rustle of bees as they move along

And listen do the blades of grass who slowly sway in dance

As well as the wild growing flowers so beautiful at glance

 

On the sun warmed rocks their play a group of children

Who laugh and smile with their troubles far behind them

A simple game with rocks and dice of their own imagination

The board drawn and changed in dirt without a hesitation

As each child throws and points are gained but no one wants to count

And simple fun and thrill of chance is what this game is about

 

They listen to the wind and birds and smile with childlike pleasure

Then giggle as by the throw of dice they gain a new found treasure

A piece of quartz upon the ground becomes their latest trophy

But soon again another wins for so they choose to agree

That in this game none shall lose or feel unhappy things

Rather shall they be winners all and see what fortune brings

 

But slowly as they are at play the sweet songs fade away

Their focus on this simple game would not let it stay

For soon the game grows bolder as the children seek to win

And all their speak winners all is lost as a fever settles in

The lust for rocky trophies and to beat the competition

Removes the childlike wonder and the truth of their position

 

For the bigger boys start to take what is not theirs

And the smaller of children cannot hold their tears

For as quartz and flint alike are taken from their grasp

By strength or by cheat all they can do is gasp

And sob until their eyes they sting and their throats begin to hurt

The game has now changed and so must they to stay alert

 

And behind the sun warmed rocks where the children sit and play

Sit three old men upon a bench as they do every day

Observe do they the children and how the game has changed

But they do not say a word nor look they estranged

But from six small eyes in sunken face begins to fall small tears

For they see how quickly the world will bring ones fears

 

By Richard Herring

(Age 18)