Stalemate

A poem by Colm Horgan

We’ve reached this place again
A stalemate
In the same game

We started
 with different moves
  than the last time
But after a while
 we fell into the same steps
Mirroring our past
Even though
 we know
  it always brings us here

There are moves we never made
 before we met
Moves we only made
 with each other
And maybe moves
 we’ll never use with others

We have taken these pieces of ourselves
 and broken their neat little rows
Some worth more
 to our aching hearts
Some weighing heavier
And losing them
 letting another take hold of them
  is something we’ve been trying to avoid

I’ve grown tired
 of us trying to trick each other
Tired of playing game after game
Tired of wondering
 which of us will end it
When neither of us
 are stepping away
Each of us wondering
 who has taken more from the other?

And so here we stand
A stalemate
King and Queen
Stuck

Yet, we’re still at the table

A poem by Colm Horgan