checkmate?

The world – in which we choose to live – unwilling participants

as pawn – are played – forcing hand – of rook and knight

 changing – the world – of bishop delight

seeking out  – mastered schemes

democracy – a coalition dream

parsing words – with sword on hand  

with claims of peace - on another’s sand  

if no gain – by taking king – would we stain – with bloody dream

of conquest – from regime to regime

don’t think the plight – of common man – is most important

with oil at hand

unwilling participants – in games – that are played

by heads of state - that speak as one  – tie our hands

freedom the bait – checkmate

a fortress without profit

Here within these walls of protection without pain

is the highest of a fortress without profit and no gain

In hoping all would once be as though it were

when I was just little girl and had so much time to grow

Not because I want to relive all the secrets and the shame

of others lives

that through my pain

found their profit and their gain

Of which I live through each and every day

but to think I could start over

sounds good

all just the same

but then I ask how far back would I go

and there is just not a starting point

that does not have a toll