The Master Hand should not be gloved,
should not slide with such grace above
the battlefield, should not benefit from
a lofty distance from melees or blasts,
should not sate its bloodlust with that
gentle touch, a puppeteer’s privilege.
Who riles the soldiers unto
certain death or undoing?
What controls have I?
What special move
that the world
expects of me,
requests of me,
commands
me?
Katherine Quevedo was born and raised near Portland, Oregon, where she works as an analyst and lives with her husband and two sons. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Rhysling Award, and her video game poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Sidequest, TOWER Magazine, the minison zine, Wind Guide You, and decomp journal. Her debut mini-chapbook, The Inca Weaver’s Tales, is available from Sword & Kettle Press. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys watching movies, playing old-school video games, singing, belly dancing, and making spreadsheets. Find her at www.katherinequevedo.com.
