(Photo credit: chrisjta.ylor.ca)

Day 175 prompt: Noisy

arcade games clang and ding
as tokens slide from greasy fingers into silver slots

three separate parties shout and drone
happy birthday in seven different keys

skee balls rumble and clunk
into the lowest trough of disappointment

spinning wheel ticks and clacks
to its two-ticket-emitting stopping point

napless children scream and wail
fueled by pizza, cola, frosting and greed

guys who drive mini-vans sigh and slurp
cold lite beer ‘til mommy meltdowns signal go time