We play chess with
The Red Queen
She always wins of course
The board travels
Into infinity
As if he is playing
In front of a mirror
Watching himself
Watching us
He is stuck in black and white
Like a prisoner
Reaching through the bars
We have moved
Into colour
We dream of horses
In the night
Their shadows
Trot and play on our
Plain beige walls
They are knights
She chuckles
She knows far more
About chess than me
The only game I play
Is risk
We do not like to think
Of the Queen dying
She was part of our world
That means we always have her
Alice whispers
We can't erase memories
Good or bad
In some ways we are like prisoners too
In others we are as free
As a pawn
Ready to move forward
Watching ourselves
Grow taller
In the magic mirror
I wonder who will wear her crown
It will be preserved
Like a book of fairy tales
One moment vivid
One moment fading back
To back and white
Just like a chessboard.
This poem makes me think of the film The Queen's Gambit, about a young woman who excelled at chess, but had a very hard life. I love the lines about dreaming of horses. Soon I will be at the farm visiting my sister's horses.
ReplyDeleteYour use of metaphor in this is strong and lovely Jae Rose. I always love how you capture something from each image and then sew them together into a beautiful gown of poetry.
ReplyDelete"The only game I play is risk" .... spectacular line, Jae. Cheers to you .. we will miss Your Queen horribly.
ReplyDeleteThe way this wanders across the board is captivating. The game continues as the pieces shift.
ReplyDelete"We do not like to think
ReplyDeleteOf the Queen dying
She was part of our world"
Outstanding, contemporary lines Jae. Bravo!
Much💛love
I feel while reading this I'm a mediocre chess player at best. Your astute observations, the movement of your words are marvelous.
ReplyDelete