The audio enveloped us
As we stood in score
Coins on the mantel
Like soldiers ready for war

Lights flashed and fascinated
As howls echoed through
A Hadouken! rang out
The end was nigh; I knew.

Anticipation rose
Among those in line
The wait would be over
A player shift in time.

Put to use the knowledge
Absorbed from magazines
Studying moves like scripture,
A nightly routine.

Intro music booms out
And the plane takes flight.
Ninety-nine seconds up
Round one, fight!

For those few fleeting seconds
In arcades across the globe
We were World Warriors
And we were full of hope.

Photo by Chris Andrawes on Unsplash

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