Game

You wish to control your own fate,

to take hold of your game piece, your pawn

and push it forward to the finish, 

knocking all other players off the board

in your quest to win. 

But cheaters never win, can't you see?

your funeral will be quiet, no one will know 

quite what to say about you, 

since this is a funeral you planned 

and each word is scripted, none of them 

say the words we're all thinking.

You got a card that said to go back two spaces again. 

it made you feel defeated, alone

as if you had no will to keep going 

if you were only going to be pushed back again. 

i myself skipped a turn or two, 

and am now a space in front of you

unable to hold you up.

I want to wait until the cards bring me to finish, 

no matter how long it takes

how much pain i have to go through

because even though death is like winning to you, 

even though to you, it is glorious, 

we're all going to get there. 

there's no waiting for the other players to join us. 

i can hold your hand along the way, but in the end, 

i'll get that card before you, 

move up five spaces, 

and die quietly, 

alone.