Red and black
His coat of checkers
Red and black
Songs and sleep
I try to count sheep
But he lingers, his coat of checkers
Imprinted in my mind
Soft and warm
Safe and sound

The pieces, they move
He made his, I made mine
He made his, and I made mine

Checkered sunset,
Fade as he walks away
Fade from view,
But not from mind, no,
He won’t leave my mind

Games played, moves made
It was made to end
Designed for one to win
Maybe at a time I thought it was far
So far away, but it was there,
Right in front of me,
Maybe it was mental chess,
He’s got me in checkmate

Checkered sunset,
Fade as he walks away
Fade from view,
But not from mind, no,
He won’t leave my mind

Words in my throat,
Choke them out,
I’ll take my time,
He’ll take his,
That’s all we have
It’s all we have

Cover my eyes, he’s still there,
What am I to do?
I don’t know what to do,
I lost, it’s done,
Yet here I am,
Here I will always be

Checkered sunset,
Fade as he walks away
Fade from view,
But not from mind, no,
He won’t leave my mind

I don’t wanna be this,
Pathetic dreamer, sad songwriter,
I don’t wanna be this,
Bringer of pain, I’m a bringer of pain
His and mind, I’m sorry

Falling through time
Dreams of vermilion fade
Back to the wall
Head on my pillow
He was the dream I had to believe in
Now a sunset, daily sunset,
I only catch glimpses,
Then turn away
I turn away, walk away,
Fading into the night,
Fading into starlight
I am only starlight
Glimpsing a checkered sunset.

- Jay M
January 4th, 2023