A Pawn

a young man sitting in the corner
just past the border
of adulthood
yet no more a man than his adolescent brother
he is a dreamer, a lover, a poet
his words reach out to unseen faces
but he remains enclosed
within the womb of his own world
where no one touches him
safe from the witch hunt on the outside
where shameless persecution reigns
ignorance and prejudice are enemy knights and bishops
on the chessboard of the game of life
the man plays, reluctant to sacrifice himself
and checkmate!
falls into a demeaning loss