Chess in the Park

6/8/11

Chess in the Park

Sitting in the park,

Surrounded by black trees

And white stars,

Playing chess with a friend,

Listening to Christian prayer music –

Yes, this is what I do for fun.

The night creeps onto us

On silent cat-paws,

But we ignore it.

Everything is silent,

Only our fingers speak

And our brains scream.

I look him in the eye

And punch him

With the rough smack of the rook

Against the table.

He slaps his bishop against my pawn

And it drops

Somewhere into the depths of darkness,

Among the black trees

Below the silver stars.

Everything is silent.

Why speak at all?

The trembling of the finger

Or the distracted blink of an eye

Explains everything.

Who knew that night was so…

The trees sway like women

And the stars glitter their eyes.