duel

We start the duel
Sitting across a linen-covered table
Under the flickering candlelight.

Not the best place to do battle.

You draw first,
A barrage of
You, her, me
While I dodge, parry,
I, you, she.

And I know we are both experienced players
At this game with unwritten rules
Yet everytime we play
Nothing follows--play by ear.

As expected
With the silence and only the rythmic clinks
Of silverware
It ends.

Stalemate.