Betsy Robin Schwartz

Someday, Mr. Guy\(em

We'll have to play cards together

because moving from square to square

takes too long.

You think about all your moves in advance

way ahead of any actual action.

So many details

So many variables

Ways to out-think your opponent

Ways to go on the offense

Ways to be defended

Safe moves

Safe openings

Pawn, rook, knight, bishop, queen, king

Putting pieces in place

Protecting them

Losing them.

When the queen is lost,

she can be re-won, reborn

If the king is unprotected

(and only when he has been warned, stopped, checked)

can he be mated.

See, I know all the rules, but

I'd rather play something

where wildcards substitute for aces.