Joe Flach Poet Rhyme

Permanent Check-Mate

I am standing naked on a crowded street
But nobody seems to be noticing me
I am less embarrassed by my nakedness
Than by my invisibility

They all seem to be looking right through me
Or staring down at the concrete walk
With iPod plugs shoved deep into their ears
Nobody can hear me talk

I try flagging down a taxi
But their “Off Duty” lights are on
On the black and white checkerboard
I am the sacrificial pawn

The Queen moves in every direction
The King is rooted in place
I try catching the eye of a policeman
But he has mirrored glasses upon his face

The world is swirling in circles
The Bishop runs off with a boy
My wife no longer lies with me
She prefers her electrical toys

The teacher wakes me up in class
Why am I in school when I’m fifty-five
I don’t remember being captured by the Rook
Is it possible I’m no longer alive

The King has no more safe squares to go
Laying him down is his only fate
Tangled up in a sticky spider web of life
I’m stuck in a permanent check-mate

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Gwendolen Song December 14, 2011 at 2:48 PM Those who write allegory this well should move to Hollywood..this kind of imagination does sell. You had me from the first line to the end....then I found myself trying to read it all over again. Excellent game chosen..chess is a brain teaser for many...I feel as though in your dream state there are to inseparable worlds colliding. Thanks for sharing this awesome write....be proud! Savin it for my treasure trove...Gwendolen

Joe Maverick December 1, 2011 at 11:53 PM Well talk about playing catch up..! you have i think well shown the speed and negligence of care so endemic in the current world here Joe:)

Kabuteng P.Ink K. November 29, 2011 at 9:24 PM This sure can be a weird dream but definitely interesting, Joe :) Enjoyed reading this...and could somewhat relate-- me I have a lot of dreams where I am back in school and taking an exam??

Nancy Jones November 29, 2011 at 9:23 PM Joe,this is fabulous to me, thanks for goin' "out there", write on, thanks ~N

Andrea Dietrich November 29, 2011 at 8:18 PM Great dream poem, Joe! YOu did well rhyming it too.

Tracy Edwards November 29, 2011 at 4:42 PM Oh that is brilliant Joe..you should definitely write in this style more often... Its screams of a loss of faith in the world tho.. xx

Carolyn Devonshire November 29, 2011 at 2:17 PM Joe, I have had similar dreams -- being naked and invisible in a crowd. The inability to make sense of everything that happens comes through very well in the analogy of a chess board, finding yourelf "stuck in a permanent check-mate." If you wake up remembering such a dream, it often makes a person re-evaluate their life. Very nice change of pace for you, Joe! Love, Carolyn

Wilma Neels November 29, 2011 at 2:10 PM Joe maybe I am weird but I absolutely love this piece.. There is so many ways to identify with it especially for me... I love how you went about bringing that feeling of being alone across ;) this made me smile.. Told ya I am weird!! Tc Wilma

Natalie The Rogue Rhymer November 29, 2011 at 2:05 PM Joe-Actually I love it. It makes perfect sense to me actually. Fantastic...more of these kinds please!

Carol Sunshine Brown November 29, 2011 at 1:32 PM I have no idea on how to play chess but....if it is anything like what you wrote no wonder it took my uncles so long to play a game. Have a great day Joe. Love, Carol

David Williams November 29, 2011 at 1:22 PM Joe, way out there..MB

Tony Lane November 29, 2011 at 1:08 PM Joe, this was great. It's kind of twilight zoney and kind of too much pizza before bed but I like it.