Bebop on the Board

Check out my you tube channel where I read my poetry from my recently published books:

Chess in the afternoon glare,
each square a kingdom.
Sunlight leans over the board
like an irritated instructor.

A broken speaker coughs Coltrane
into couch cushions
and shag carpet.
My back aches
from time
and miles.

She sits across from me,
staining her fingers
with blackberries,
dark as confession.

She licks her thumb.
Doesn’t look up.

Rook slides right.
Knight whinnies
and retires to the side.

On the news,
France falls again.
Italy folds.

Her pink polka-dot dress
climbs higher
as she leans forward.
Strategy disappears.

The pawns trot forward,
small bodies
built for sacrifice.

The queen waits�"
quiet,
thick with violence,
bloody intention.

From under the dirt,
Charlie Parker blows
through coffin wood
and tree roots,
amber notes pounding
into bone,
into memory.

The room smells of fruit
and sweat,
dust hanging
in the light.

She looks at me,
smiles that predatory grin,
and says, Check.

The floorboards hum
a long bebop sadness.
They are playing
jazz in hell.

We wait.

Author's Note

My books are available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Thomas-W.-Case/author/B0CL2RKDGX?refapTonight

I recorded a live reading from four of my books — poems about work, winter, memory, and the quiet endurance that shapes a life.

If you’d like to hear these pieces in my own voice, the full reading is here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY2euFFCXLI

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

Hello Thomas, from where did this come? It is truly inspired writing. From the very first stanza we know we are going someplace special. “Sunlight leans over the board like an irritated instructor.” Of course your opponent is eating blackberries, that is so perfect, but no one else would have thought to include it. Oh that queen with her bloody intentions. You hit this one out of the ballpark my friend, way out.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend...Chess with an ex...lol

[Rosie E C…]

Now,

This is a surprisingly pleasant and subtly dark. I like this.

Very tactical start, a powerful journey throughout. This poem has got me very absorbed and compelled from the get go.

Stunning imagery from each stanza. The 6th stanza is my favourite. Stands out the most.

A strange, good feeling to be creepy from this read.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

[John the Baptist]

As I read this one, I kept feeling there was more going on here than a chess game, especially when the lady's dress climbed higher. Actually, nothing more overt occurred, but I couldn't get away from the feeling that a competition more serious than chess was happening. As to Charlie Parker and the jazz in hell, I don't have a clue.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.

[W. Barrett Munn]

Interesting and well done. The leaps feel as though they belong.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[ETERNITY]

Wow! A man of so many means! Just when I think I have this author figured out, he reveals even more! Absolutely fascinating!
It is, indeed, like watching a very interesting game of chess.
Every move reveals more of him.
Check and check, mate.

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[Betty Hermelee]

A very descriptive scene, Thomas, full of yesteryear and what we did then... I can almost smell the place from your vivid descriptions.... the old days of chess and jazz...smoking...and you make the chess pawns come alive!..."dust hanging in the light"and you bring in what's going on in the outside world as well...
NICE!
Warmly, B

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, Betty.

[Betty Hermelee]

Always a pleasure!🌷

[Soren]

In your traditional must and grit you weave a tale of life that most of us know but somehow have forgot. Through the words memories bleed through and pool. Your style like the blues was hard to get used to Thomas but now it permeates my soul and its slow beat pulls at the soul and wails with each heart beat. It is most lovely feeling worn, tattered, beaten, a part of life. Thank you for your poems my friend

[Thomas W Case]

Thanks. I appreciate you.

[Soren]

You are welcome Thomas and the feeling is mutual