" Playing chess taught me a queen is both

deadly & graceful, poised &ruthless
Quiet & cunning. A queen

offers her hand to be kissed,

& can form it into a fist
while smiling the whole damn time

But what happens when tose principles
only apply in a game? & in the real world

i am not treated as a lady or a queen,
as a defender or opponent

but as a girl so many want to strike off the board. "

― Elizabeth Acevedo , Clap When You Land