In checkers you’re
One of two
Things you move
The same whichever
One you are
In chess you’re
One of one
Thing you move
The same depending
What you are
When did we
Switch games making
Labeling me one
Thing and restricting
My movement rather
Than being free
To be me
I have never
Seen two birds
Bump into each
Other in flight
We were lucky
Then to be
Humans instead of
Birds weren’t we
And it came
As a surprise
A video call
From you after
A silent week
Like a river
Thawing under April
Sun the chatter
Flowed quietly as
Trickles at first
Then torrents of
Laughter and teasing
Awakened again alive
We seemed to
Grow back into
One another rolling
Like the majestic
River we are
And one large
Black cloud stood
Still above me
And let loose
Saturating me with
Affection and interest
And as quickly
As it began
It ended my
Cloud moving on
Perhaps I should
Get an umbrella
If I’m going
To play again
In the rain
And like a
Pup waiting beneath
The dinner table
Or the feral
Cat yowling outside
The screen door
I’ve become an
Acceptor of scraps
Tossed as an
Afterthought or perhaps
A pedantic gesture
Or maybe even
A lure keeping
Me enticed until
You catch me
Measure me and
Throw me back
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 