FIFTH GRAGERS

    They roll the dice.
    The thimble, cannon, boot
    creep round the board.
    Three ten year olds at play.
    "Let's NOT pay rent."
    "Let's go the OTHER way."
    "A motel FIRST."
    "Let's pass out ALL the loot."
    At eight they tried to grasp
    this complex game.
    By twelve they'll master it
    and take their turn.
    Right now,
    by every "what if…"
    they will learn,
    when things go wrong,    
    just how and what's to blame.
    But if you're twenty-one
    there's no defense
    to land on Marvin Gardens
    and NOT pay,
    skip Go to Jail,
    claim bankrupt
    and still play.
    And where's the proper,
    timely consequence?
    At ten they play not BY
    but WITH the rules.
    At seventy, you're either
    crooks or fools.