BOARD GAME WITH KATIE

I knew a little girl who liked
to play Monopoly. She enjoyed
especially the start, when
dice tosses sped her tiny race
car around the board and she would
buy, buy, buy. She'd clap her hands
when someone landed on her property
and announce "you owe me money"
with what seemed to me inordinate delight.

But when her fortunes ebbed,
as frequently they did, when each dice
roll promised mere escape at best,
her enthusiasm for the game began
to wilt. Until, when times turned
truly tough, she'd sweep her arm
across the board, dispatching
cards and cash to jumbled heap.

I saved my lecture
on good sportsmanship
till later.