Gleaming, enticing the pinball machine sits,

Sensual and full of temptation

in the shadows of the amusement arcade.

 

Breathing deeply it rises to and fro emitting

the intro to a rock musical from the seventies;

Like a Broadway show about to begin a long run.

 

Silently a line appears to walk towards it

No one saying anything but all allure as if in a trance;

Pilgrims with a short term unlikely god

Instant Gratification.

 

PLAY ME PLAY ME …

Comes the noiseless refrain

Becoming louder as the crowd grows

Less patient and delirious for the start.

 

Suddenly the curtains rise

The lights go up,

And a cacophony of sound and light begins,

As the balls and bells and repelling rubber pounds out an indecent

But addictive tune.

 

Which they all play,

Perfectly distracted.

All senses. engaged in irrelevant and unloving satisfaction.

 

The perfect storm to ignore God.