Double Checkmate

Knives drawn
the red queen knits,
the white king’s
bishops ready
to plunge
them straight into her heart …

A double checkmate …

who shall topple first?

Universes

A flame flutters
as a hand passes,
forefinger and thumb
hold a universe,
red glows through eyelids,
the edges of the circle
now etched in crimson,
she catches words
floating with dusty motes,
and carefully
places them
in a jewel encrusted case
beside photographs
of ghosts …

A red shoe
lying on its side
protests and casts
a wondrous shadow
of another universe …