Losing at love is like dying in a video game;
I have an infinite void of choices to make.

Whether a Bowser or a Koopa Troopa,
I can replay the same mistake.

Find a new brick pathway to heartbreak;
no one will complain.

If I'm in the mood I can level up,
button smash,
learn the moves,
work on my stats.

Caution:
the outcome is likely the same.

I can even find a check point,
pause for a suitable save.

Find a mystery box,
take a wrong turn,
discover extra lives
and early graves.

I can drool over a cool,
new character
with unknown abilities.

Avoid the chain chomps
of matrimony, and
dodge the normal bloopers
to soar high on a flag to the next stage.

But when the world dulls,
the action lulls,
and the joystick won't behave,

I have options:

fall into a pit of lava,
stand under a thwomp,
pick a path filled with bob-bombs,
fail to make a foot stomp,

or let time run out,
suicide the situation,
and forget the whole thing.

Win or lose,
no one boos because
saving the princess isn't really the aim.

©2023 | K. Hartless


15 responses to “GloPoWriMo #16 Game Over”

  1. My kids would understand the games much better than I, a non-gamer. I hope you are okay, K.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It’s all good fun. My kiddos like Mario and this poem came sprang from that. All is well.

      Like

      1. That’s good!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Tom Avatar

    Great wordplay here, K! Especially ‘Avoid the chain chomps
    of matrimony, and
    dodge the normal bloopers
    to soar high on a flag to the next stage.’ – very fitting analogy 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I must admit my littlest wanted to see the Mario movie and it’s crept I got his poem. A fun pen! ⛓️🧱🛠️

      Liked by 1 person

  3. perfect and unexpected simile; you tease it out sardonically to its bitter end; love ‘the chain chomps of matrimony’; been there

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. My littlest had to see the Mario movie and I guess it all sort of gushed out during it. There’s a lot of fun in this one. ⛓️🛠️

      Liked by 1 person

      1. there certainly is; most of your poems, even the serious ones, have an element of play —

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Bob Avatar

    Just took my youngest to the Mario movie. Love all the references.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Bob. Great nostalgia, that one.

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Sounds like a harsh game…

    Liked by 1 person

    1. True. But, what else will get you hyped up enough to say, “Mama Mia?”

      Liked by 1 person

      1. This is very true… You have me there lol

        Liked by 1 person

      2. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Choirs singing, Chain chomps ringing. While The bride awaits her barbed wire ring. But I wear the biggest smile. I’ll take misery business and the lava pit. Fuck it.

    Like

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