The Lascivious Game

Once but a mere checkered board for pleasure,
A tactical game of strategic thinking
In Hollywood and Washington.
Now of monstrous competitive proportions,
Played by wanna-be-adult/youngsters with dreams
Labored with ambition,
Learning patience is brutal,
Trophied by adolescent stuckedness,
Understanding little but the game,
While trying to behave as adults.

Bishops preach.
Knights recon.
Castles wait,
And the androgynous queen makes its check
While the pawns scamper,
Knowing capture is but time spent
In temporary confinement,
Until the next battle,
A game played with blacks and whites,
Yellows and browns,
Carved and molded,
Digitized and magnetized.
All pieces sacrificed if necessary
To protect the seat of power.

Eventually…

Nothing is merely conquered.
Destruction of the playing field
Remains all important.

Checkmate is of zero mercy.

Such is power’s lascivious game.