ah, the subtilty

with which we learn

to shoot each other

water pistols in joyous colors

or us to play the hero

while our buddies rise again

drenched, laughing, unharmed

arcade games with cartoon

victims splattered while blatant

noises celebrating victory

prod us to aim and fire at more

until a hectic emergency room

physician hears groans and whimpers

of surprise from gang victims

“It hurts!”