Games Appropriate for Those Ages 18-97

He could have carried on, Duchamp,
just being a genius

at what came easy.
Instead, he gave up

art for chess,
He ended up obsessed, but

fair to middlin’
even when the light was best.

His wife sensed
his mind needed

something else, something with endless variations.

One morning, she glued
his pieces to the board

and waited in the garden
for him to awaken.

***

By all means, paint or play,
master you [sic] craft

and your inspiration, but
if you see her draped

on a half-empty bench
keep your wits about you

stick with something
you can hope to win,

decline her invitation.

–August 21, 2017