mind games

you set the board,
know the rules,
think far ahead
anticipating the moves,
you read your enemies
find their weaknesses,
play your part
and pull them down
beneath you.

with little effort
you tire soon,
the challenge ends
you change the rules,
swap the players,
start anew,
continuing till
there's no one else
above you.

that poker face
you hide behind,
becomes the mask
of the void inside.
the prize you gain,
your own pedestal.
but its just not worth it
at the top
of a lonely game
with no one else
beside you