Family Reunion Is Like Chess

The rook is sneaking up on us But we don’t give a fig or a fraction Because who is he anyway? A one-directional bore snore really. He slithers up and down the highway of life Staying to corners, like a scared mouse. The bishop refuses to let go of the knight. No big surprise here. The knight can never shake him. They are in some kind of parasitic relationship. Not understood. But also not bone-chilling or even worth a second thought. Where are the pawns? They are usually giggling all around. This is a family reunion after all. I ask, but no one knows. They are growing older now, bringing boyfriends and girlfriends. I roll my eyes, remembering those days of looking in the mirror. Never thinking I was ever ready. The king is sitting in a recliner clicking through TV stations. Other semi-kings are giving him advice. “Not that one!” “That one!” “Dad!” “Granddad!” Nothing new here. I know the queen will be in the kitchen with fresh-baked rolls. Cookies, brownies, and six kinds of pies. So that is where I head of course.