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| The Monopoly logo (2008–present) |
In trading properties
we learned to compromise—
Or was that bargaining?
Long frustrating hours of
wheeling and dealing to
stay in the game and win.
There was always one, though,
who would concede nothing—
would never compromise—
Not for fun nor kindness
not for speeding up nor
slowing down our endgame.
How we hated this one
cut-throat player who blocked
our strategies so well!
Maybe we just weren’t
capitalist enough
to hold monopolies?
Maybe we were always
competitive enough
to trick and treat to win.
We learned to compromise
in those moments before
play when we chose the game.
Let's play Monopoly!
How about playing War
or Chess or Hide & Seek?
For my prompt
Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Compromise
Please respect my experiment and my copyright.
© 2016 Susan L. Chast
Monopoly is exactly that - compromise...long hours and a strange sense of 'fun' - no clear winners..apart from the person who got the little dog as a counter! Such is much of life i suppose
ReplyDeleteLove your take on the prompt... indeed we learnt much over long hours of monopoly!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! Love the reference to learning how to compromise via trading properties.
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Sanaa
Maybe we just weren’t
ReplyDeletecapitalist enough
to hold monopolies?
Perhaps compromising is expected in play but fatal in a real situation
Hank
Ha, I know that kind of player. In it to win it. An interesting perspective on compromise, Susan.
ReplyDeleteI loved the way the poem ended. A very interesting take on the prompt.
ReplyDeleteYou remind me how much playing games teaches us how to live. After spending time with my grandkids, I wonder what they are learning. They don't play as many games as we did. They play video games mostly. Though many are educational, they lack the interpersonal aspect. How will kids learn those skills?
ReplyDeleteI think this is exactly why Monopoly is the only game I ever liked... Compromise and win-win is what I live for.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a differing view point on the prompt, bought back some fun and frustrating memories. I like the referal to compromise too.
ReplyDeleteThis was smart and fun. loved.
ReplyDeleteFor every step forward we make we lose a little of the past which is shown so clearly in the way kids play so much by themselves now. There is always so much sadness in memory and I am sure so many of your readers feel that too.
ReplyDeleteoh how i love the end!...complexity does appeal..real fun is there when it's truly complicated when a game, but in real life hide & seek is preferable :) love the unique take on the prompt...
ReplyDeleteMonopoly, brings back many memories of being, on the losing end. Guess, I don't have that killer instinct, it takes to win, at this game. Probably, why I, rather play a card game, instead.
ReplyDeleteSmiles...brilliant.
ReplyDeleteMany things to learn from the game of Monopoly :)
ReplyDelete