B O A R D & I N D I F F E R E N T

She sits impassively
Indifferent
Unmoved
Unmoving
Like a chess piece


I study the board
I study her face
She holds her expression
And stares into space

I move the pawn (and smile)
She won't take the bait
She gazes at the board
While I sit and wait

My bishop next
Into the fray
She does not counter
In expected ways

My pieces not drawing
Her fortress still strong
Her defenses holding
What did I do wrong?

Starting to fret
I reach for the knight
If anything works
You'd think that it might

The knight barely merits
A second glance
I've called the tune
But she still won't dance

She stoops to conquer
Leans backward to think
Her white pieces loom
While mine seem to shrink

Desperate at last
My rook now takes aim
But she is not breached
All moves are in vain

I have tried everything
Moves
Gambits
Strategies
Given my all
Charm fell flat
Guile did not serve me
Could not make her smile
Or draw her
Into my game

She sits above it all
(As if on a throne)
Indifferent
Unmoving
Unmoved
A white queen
Checkmate