In a game where everyone's trying to lose,

Winning isnt anything.

My sons and I peruse the Mayan History Section

And see the bas-relief of the Great stadium,

And read about how archeologists think

The winner of the game

Was the one chosen to be beheaded

And offered as human sacrifice. 

My sons instantly say

They would have tried to lose.

It makes me wonder

If this is why Mayan culture disappeared.

Maybe their best and brightest didn't want

To be offered to the gods.

Maybe the best and brightest tried to fail,

Threw the game, and then left town,

Or went underground,

Leaving the official society and the gene pool

With only those who couldn't read the writing on the wall,

Second-besters willing to try too hard,

And maybe then the gods became unhappy 

With the ceremonies and the hackneyed outcomes,

And refused to hear their prayers

Even after all that was said and done.

-jenn