The Man In The White Suit by Lori Yamamoto

Verse 1 (The Scene) On a night that could be from an old movie, in a room where a gold clock ticks, a man sits in his white suit. The air is getting very thick. Verse 2 (The Arrival) She comes from the dark wearing a dress the color of midnight. Midnight blue. No introduction. She was summoned. He knew she would come. Verse 3 (The Waiting) She does not ask things. She watches the silver gleam. The ice in the bucket is slowly becoming water. The city has fever dreams. Verse 4 (The Table) On the table, oysters are waiting in their cold shells. She wears Joy perfume. The smell is jasmine and death. The bag on her lap is old and expensive. Verse 5 (The Debt) She has a debt. She has brought it to him tonight. She does not speak it. The oysters know. The clock knows. He straightens his tie. It is a flag. Verse 6 (The Stare) She looks at him coolly. The moon is on the water. The leather of the bag. The jasmine in the air. They wait to see who will look away first. Verse 7 (The Morning) Morning light is like a surgeon. Precise and cold. The champagne tastes like lead now. He holds his cards close to his chest. The words are sleeping. Verse 8 (The Statues) They are two statues in a museum of one room. The clock is still ticking. Neither one will move first. Both are too proud. Both are afraid. Verse 9 (The Taste) Every little taste is caught inside the bones now. The silk of her dress slid when she sat down. He heard it. It sounded like a small goodbye. [Outro] "Checkmate." She said it quietly. "Let's do this again… in another life." Then a laugh. Not happy. Just… tired. The door closed. It was a heavy door. I was still holding my drink. I never saw who won. Maybe nobody won. Maybe that was the point.