Checkers

First day of the month—

two old men playing checkers

lose track of their moves.

Chess

first spring afternoon—

two old men in brown felt hats

playing chess outdoors

every afternoon

in the shadow of a church

old men playing chess

The girl with blue shoes

leaves them outside the back door

to play with the stars.

eating the locusts

that ravished my only crop—

turnabout’s fair play

from Dachau’s ovens

the play of light and shadow

on a dove’s left wing

three children at play

kicking a ball in the street

till the supper call