8.7 No Game, Not Futile

by Eric Chaet

I won’t play the pilgrim game
the game the players call losing
& I won’t play the games the players play
the games the pilgrims call losing
I play the game that’s no game
I shuffle the entire deck of pilgrims & players
of various nations, occupations, possessions, & status
& what I deal out of the same deck of possibilities
involves everyone, is no game, & is not futile
real progress replaces losing & consolation
& winning at others’ expense, & scores.