Soldier on the front lines.
Infantry on a chess set.
The bishop checks the king.
The king’s in check.
The rook goes left.
The rook moves two steps,
protects the King.
Knight moves, king castles.
Living the life of a marine.
Platoon and commander in chief.
Semper Fi. Really wish I had
a team or at least a few
good people to watch my six.
Jesus hung from a crucifix.
He finally screamed in the
final hour Why have you
forsaken me? What a
beautiful gift to know
yourself when your faith
catches up to your body.
First sip of coffee, a little
sip of sunshine, I move the pawn
and set up a block. Semper fi.
The rush of a marine.
Unfortunately, I move my knight
so I can sip coffee and my
brain synapses snap. Then I watch
my opponent’s queen and bishop
move slowly. I wish I was in
a submarine. Challenged this woman.
Challenge received. The few. The proud.
The cycle of celebrities.
I see one, but there are many.
I take my cortisone and thank God
for my heartbeat, for three
steady meals, running hot water,
for a chess set to hang on to
with my strategy and opponents to
humble me. Good people cause
symmetry. Paramedics and doctors,
the people helping me. Another
sip of coffee, I walk like an ant
on a chess set. Gratitude that
I am not an ant. I’m a man
with mind, body and soul
and not one leg of a centipede
or a barren leaf on a forgotten
playground in a cemented city
where no one cleans the leaves
or cares that leaves even exist.
I’m grateful that I miss these words,
plus these words, and 3,725,000
other words, and that is
fucking beautiful. Your move.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.