water pistols
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!”