My inner adult

refuses to join in the games

saying that tiddlywinks

and marbles

are but amusements for children.

It sits in solace, whilst the outer child

smiles and pokes fun,

creates rhymes, draws illusion

and wonders at magic tricks, never understanding

how they truly work,

and yet the bullet trick is the one the adult,

hiding in the shell,

giggles and hopes

will pop a balloon, latex burst with a bang.

Ian D. Hall 2017