Defenseless

Life's of black and white,
green and cream, brown and flesh;
on checkers, and squares, and boxes;
on wood, glass, plastic
- that familiar strategic game of complex moves and decisions;
of risking, sacrificing, consuming.
And there's no turning back- only forward and side-ward.

You make your moves. I do too- though at times I retreat.
Too scared to risk, to fall.
Piece by piece you take away,
then you capture my queen, my heart
as I take your bait.

My walls broken- you leave me defenseless, resigned.
And all that's left, my king, cornered with nothing to govern.
Not even the heart
that, at last, lost to you..