Ode To Bowling Alley Arcades

Mesmerized by the blinking lights and beaming signs

A child-sized Vegas radiating pure joy

Cars whizzing by on pixelated screens,

Megaman fighting to defeat Dr. Wily

Clawed hands grasping at tiny polyester creatures

Loud high pitched beeps ringing throughout the grease filled air.

It’s obvious that this is a home to some

The geometric carpet littered with abstract squiggles of color,

a stench filling the lively room, the sweet smell of

sweat,

quarters,

pizza,

and Coke.

Children running about with long serpentine rolls of tickets like tails dragging behind them

Eagerly awaiting the measly prizes that sit upon a dusty shelf

Bears with hats,

skateboards,

and frisbys.

All prizes never to be touched by a child’s hands

But the trash is what we cherish most,

the stale pieces of candy,

the rubber lizards,

and the stickers.

All will be lost in cavernous pockets throughout the night.

The only memories that will remain will be seen tomorrow,

A pizza sauce stained shirt,

M.I.A tickets,

a drained wallet,

and a single rubber ball.