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Hangman
paper gallows
heads and sticks
futures hang
on children’s necks
and we say
leave them be, only games
sticks and stones
are hangman’s names
gallows, dragons
rods that flame
leave them be
only a game
monsters mutants
knives and ploys
bedtime now
pack up toys
close playstation
scabbard swords
lord of flies
they’re only words
hung from paper
skin so thick
it never happened
all a trick
paper gallows
heads and sticks
futures bleed
on hangman’s tricks
© Johnmichael Simon
2010
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