Chess – Like Life??
Tis an honored sport of insurgent warfare,
and germane tactics from within the trenches,
as the die is cast and travels plenty, where
the coup d’état of one king is revenge, yes—
Each man has a seat, each king has a throne
Each rule will be shadowed by an accord
The will of the impeccable, the will to condone
with such behaviors still perceived from the board.
The site of marble crust and glossy facets
This small world lain upon these housing squares.
With enigmas contrived in lucid habits
and enticements laid about on checkered snares—
As counselor of war, there is one purpose
That purpose is to crush the opponent’s mind
coercing his weakness, becoming his burdens,
plaguing every thought that intertwines.
“The laws of the board do not permit free picks:
you have to move whether you like it or not.”
All options are on the board; yet the clock still ticks,
each second shielding Arthur and Camelot.
The intellect stretches on triggered time,
trusting the subterfuge with erudite design.
Where action grants reaction, penance for crime,
and spaces earn a modicum of swift refine.
The clock peers out and haunts the verity.
Someone is now bound to make a mistake
Time, if left unvalued shows severity,
With chance of loss burgeoned as tension breaks.
Strength is amassed from robust outer shells
It always helps if they can’t see you suffering
Impassiveness is a place where you must dwell,
The best kept secret requires covering
When accepting volition we are held captive,
Prisoners to the mesmeric moonlit dark,
and opal white is helpless, but to be reactive
willing to consummate a closing spark.
There are those in life where in their presence,
Others can sense their own mediocrity
As Karpov and Tal’s minds are considered weapons
almost immune to the wiles of animosity.
In a game where there are no external factors,
nothing outside the realm of what your mind rehearsed,
No hands are dealt, no field conditions matter,
your moves are either better, equal or worse
Chess is that pressing silence, the sweating void,
in the twinging microcosms incurred
where a single vascular interchange deployed
between the frontal lobe and the nerve endings occur—
In my fingertips my words speak louder
than any other vocal conception.
The unleashed juggernaut longs to devour,
Dethroning everything until concession
None want the burden of losing the war
There is no worthy achievement in that.
Though at the end of the game, both kings and pawns
They go back into the same box and lay flat.
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Great work, Paul. That last stanza is terrific – we all come into the world with the same chances, we play the game the best we can, and no one gets out alive, for we all end up the same. I love this poem. Very clever with skillful phrasing and rhyme.
Thank you so much Phyllis. I am sorry I haven’t been on lately. I’ve had a slight case of writers block and an illness that’s kicking my butt. Much appreciation for your kind words.
It’s good to hear from you, Paul. Take care of yourself and get well.
Thank you
Skillfully written and an interesting read Paul. Well done.
Thank you so much John