twenty to start white.
twenty to start black
set the board up again and again
play where the pieces fall

more than a hundred million options in six moves
years roll by like seconds pass
between competitors
they click like the stiff buttons atop
nerdy clocks

i am the game
that is all there is to me
variables, iterations, outcomes
if i were to live 10¹²⁰ years
i still wouldn’t be anything but
midgame

i don’t play to win, or lose
i don’t play for stalemate
i play because it keeps me whole
better a fleeing king
than a pawn – unless the pawn
finds the other side