i cornered him
again today
the slippery little wretch
stood there in the corner
surrounded by my rook
my king
and the full weight
of my emotional investment
“stalemate”
said dr wolf
as though this
was not clearly
a victory
as though I had not
spent thirty minutes
herding this man
across the board
like an emotionally unavailable lover
apparently
the black king
must still feel
“threatened”
which feels like
an unnecessary technicality
i have threatened him
with my entire nervous system