Video Armageddon

There were some days a pocketful of quarters
made one feel rich, as when wise Solomon
received the Sheban Queen and kingdom borders
were crossed beneath a dry Near Eastern sun.
With our hands full, we rushed the cramped arcade
and made it our domain. The lingering smoke
would drift around the room. We weren’t afraid
of older teens and what our wins provoked.
At homes we gamed as long. From memory,
up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, b, a,
select, plus Super Mario Bros. 3
awed us despite how many times we played,
but what would thrill us more is Christ as head
of his vanguard, sword pointed, but no dread.