High Speed Pinball

High Speed Pinball

I'd watch the silver
ball hit the flipper's edge
and I'd send the ball
into a hole that coughed
up points. The ball
moved so fast,

even a single glance away
could ruin my game.
I had to focus,
but my attention kept

slipping. A song would
come on and I'd
give in to the melody
while the ball slid away.
A smell of French fries
made me look up—
at just the wrong time.

I never won High Speed.
Attention is sand. Water
runs over it and
carries it away.