Cleopatra meets the comedian.

A man and a woman play

a game of chess,

The man chooses white.

Black wins.

Woman makes man her

pawn,

He is stiff –

with fright, as she places her hand on –

the chequered board.

She is the film noir femme fatale,

With nails of red, pointed dangerous talons.

Her voice is cigarettes and sultry saxophones.

She knows what men want,

But she never delivers the goods.

She is always out of reach.

Moving the pieces from square to square, beating him –

In their battle of wits

Hands. Down.

He knocks the board over and the pieces fall to the ground.

She grabs him (that stooge that hapless sap) by the –

crisp white shirt collar.

Tugging at his rainbow-patterned-braces

Ever.

So.

Gently.

Be gentle with me some more, my queen,

don’t get out the whip the mask the chain you know I don’t like that kinky stuff -

She doesn’t listen as she throws him to the ground,

Another victory.