she
fancied herself
a queen
carving
an imaginary
kingdom

a toxic spill
blurring
the checkered board

so blinded
by her own
insecurites
she saw
people
as pieces
with no
understanding
of the mechanics
assuming any
beneath her
were all pawns
even as she
pretended to
treat them
like knights

she
fancied herself
a queen
unaware history
can always tell
benevolent from bully

a paper maché
tiara
over sad lonely eyes