you play the game for so long
it gets hard to stop
call it inertia
or competitive spirit
but you get so engrossed
in perfecting your skill set
your strategy
that it becomes you
all day
every day
you are stuck with your
guard up with
this game face
that won't let up
it's a ruthless
endeavor
and not always a
fun one
but you continue to play
and continue to get better
until you're on top
of the game
and everyone knows it
but it wears on you
and one day
you finally decide
to shut it all down
cut the losses and retire
all those years of hard work
the practiced lines
and polished smiles
the conquests and victories
decide to toss it all away
for an opportunity
at honesty
now it's almost like
you don't know how to act
but it's nice
not having to put
so much effort in
all day
every day
meet a girl
former opponent
see how things
work
without the rules of the
game to abide by
it's refreshing
this honesty
until you find out
from a friend of a friend
early one sunday evening
that the game never stops
whether you know it or not
and if you
stop playing
then you're just
losing
so here comes that game face

retirement wasn't for me
anyways