Rule One

All rules are games,
And every game
Begins in rules.

All rules are ours,
And human life
Begins in games.

Human beings
Have to play games,
Try to win them.

Human beings
Have to play by,
Bend, or break rules.

Not all the games.
Not all the rules.
Many of them.

Bats have to fly.
Fish have to swim.
You have to learn
Which games you’re in.