On and on, the cycle flows
And he watches from a distance
Their hands grip the wheel
Forcing their ideals
Forging their will
On and on, it spins
Crushing all in its path
All while the game master laughs
They feel so involved
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually
They think they’re a part of something
As numbers soar
The audience is enthralled
But the master sees this
As part of the overarching game
Slowly and unannounced
The machine breaks down
Bolts snap
The teeth in gears are worn away
Planned obsolescence
A foiled progression
Division of alliances
Devoid of intellect
There is only one way to win
Keep playing the game
Native Rhode Islander and proclaimed Renaissance Man, Iraq vet He is the author of Stones of the Wooded Valley and The Silent Whispers of Omens. His latest book PHANTOMS, covers his deployment to Iraq in '06-'07. Ben is the 2024 recipient of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Robert A. Gannon award for original poetry dealing with Marine Corps Life.