On Two

Solid ground won't wait for feet 
to support whatever's on top.

That's how games go: if you've won
you've already won.

Work hard, they said. 
Play when you're a child, they said.
Give you soul to us, they said,
we will keep it safe.

I can't quote them in safe
conscience, because they're
listening and their offense
is their only defense. 

Meritorious conduct!
Dignified peasantry!
Honorable weakness!

The strong have a lot of words
to validate their coordinates
but none of them
rely on magnets.