THIS TABLE

Warily

we eye each other

watching

wondering when

each might make their move

and who will be the first to strike

asp-like

against his allies.

Carefully

we sit

actively accusing each other

with our actions

with our expressions

with our intimidatatory adages.

We speak in codes

that we all understand.

Hungrily

we await

each other's mistakes

so we can stand before this round table

of peers

of equals

and strike

most swiftly.