Game of Death
Three girls in the room of one, intently
gazzing at the screen, pondering one man
Cared less about his physique. Just his head.
Head he had, but with no face. Make him smile.
How could he smile? They'd done it once, for them
Did a silly routine, playing his game
The three of them made him smile, face revealed
Game of Death, had to stab just sixteen times
Today they'd make him smile again, this face-
less man. How to do it, we'll play his game
Bring him up, get his game on the iPad
Here he comes now, I swear I saw him sneer
Bring three butcher knives and three red blindfolds
Rember our computer Game of Death
It works like that, one must die then I'll smile
I'll meet you after, now go to the woods
The girls remembered a lesson in school
A fun lesson about superstition
B.F. Skinner's "Pigeon Superstition"
One success, birds followed like religion
No matter, it worked on their monitor
Why not now with iPad out in the woods?
Blindfolded now, all with knives. Spin the wheel
"Iva's out!" cried other two, "drop your knife."
Blindfolds off, sixteen stabs next. Iva fell
Thin Man with no face, surely now he smiles
Superstition or no, we pleased our man
Poor Iva, she'll smile too, Heaven today
_ _ _ _
Poem and Photo Copyright © 2015 and 2011, Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved
Today I am linked with Isadora Gruye
Notes:
1. Iva (not her real name) did not die, she lived through the ordeal The other two girls, age 12 at the time are now 13 being tried as adults. This actually happened although not exactly as I have portrayed.
2. See Izzie's post at Pigeon Superstition to read about B.F. Skinners theory of superstition. He also thought that pigeons, smarter than the those of the first experiment, could guide a WWII missile to its target. Woe to us if they erred.
Extremely interesting and fun...maybe...but very good.
ReplyDeleteThis is scary, Jim, the more so because kids watch this stuff and think it is a movie when they try it themselves - but people are injured or die......there is a huge disconnect, it seems, in our plugged-in society, some fogging of the line between virtual and real..
ReplyDeleteLove your topic of choice, so relevant. We hear stories here of more slender man slayings and you captured the hysteria with a measured tone and watchful cynicism. Thanks for posting and viva la
ReplyDeleteSuch a dark tale made even darker with the hints of truth. Great Gothic piece.
ReplyDeleteSo scary... I had no idea it actually had happened.. reality and games are coming too close..
ReplyDeleteYikes--really scary poem and effective--people are so thoughtless at times--you really caught that. k.
ReplyDeleteA chilling tale - all too common nowadays.
ReplyDelete