Tag: pawn

Poem: Free Verse — “The Lady Plays Chess” #amwritingpoetry #amwritingpoetry


Credit: Jachym Michal via Unsplash.

You’re skating on thin ice, the prick of a knife,

A delusion or an illusion.

A miracle or a diversion, immersion in fantasy,

Or, plain hope staring you in the face, reaching with both arms —

Don’t let me down, don’t let me fall,

Don’t let me fade into collusion.

On every square I’ve moved my pawns,

My bishop is placed, my rook set;

The queen is prepared to wreck, whispering her secret plan.

The king’s trapped, a space or two to go,

Maybe, he slips through the cracks, other times he falls, and the river of cards before him flips — he folds.

All chips brushed away with ease when you’re betting it all,

The river floods, the pawns play tricks, her highness the Queen trembles.

Dreams and reality spin together, no one knows whether these choices are real,

Is this more than a game? A bet?

There’s a subtle splintering when a betrayed heart fractures,

A deep psychological ache, fog that chokes before it clears.

The night sky is stunning, the auora-borealis effulgent,

Pink, green, white, stars shimmer across the ice-sky, winter-white snow.

Take my hand, don’t let go.

Take my hand, bring me home, for the manger sends hope — as do friends,

In December’s dreary darkness, when I’m weak, unsure, I’ve still within me the Holy Spirit.

Yet, your eyes crinkle, her eyes a memory;

You’re here to protect, because I can’t serve all masters, and in one master we all trust.

And even if in trying I crack and tumble (the queen or the pawn),

I’ve strength yet in an invisible truths, in visible words.

And wherever she is, my mother smiles; she knows too —

All pain has not been for naught — she’s my rock.

Yet, I’ve subtle protection in the dim, not but one source,

I’ve not yet drowned in this fixed game.

For nights I was safe against his shoulder, I sighed;

Safe, time ticking by.

My heart soars with possibility, months or years away,

I’ll never be her, but a twilight of rest provides a tomorrow.

That in the darkness, I could protect and be protected, despite the denseness of fog, those howls in the night.

A child’s laughter lingers,

The lady reformed, steps up and aspires,

Pray for her, my loved ones in the sky,

That she chooses wisely despite.

©️Amanda_ME. (2020) All Rights Reserved.

Sunday Photo Fiction: Ruthless #amwriting #flashfiction #chess 


Thanks to Alistair Forbes for hosting SPF. 

——–

Credit: A Mixed Bag – Alistair Forbes

———

“I’ve learned some interesting things about chess lately,” Karley said. 

Tyler smirked and made his first move, the frosted glass pawn advanced, “What did you learn?” 

“Well, way back when there was no Queen. Beside the King was an Advisor.” 

“That Advisor must have had a lot of power if in chess he could move any direction on the board, diagonal or straight. Why did the Advisor become a Queen?” 

Karley grinned, “Well, for one, Queen Elizabeth I. But around her time and after, there were many powerful Queens. The Advisor becoming Queen was meant to please Queens, rulers who weren’t male.” 

“Do you think Queens in the monarchy were as ruthless as Kings?” Tyler asked watching Karley bring out her Bishop. 

“Of course. Queen Elizabeth I had no trouble executing those who opposed her. She also never married. I think power was her raison d’être,” Karley said placing her finger on the clear glass Queen. 

“But yet the Queen still protects the king?” Tyler mused. 

“He doesn’t really get to move much, though, does he?” 

“No, just a space here and there.” 

“Checkmate,” Karley said. 

“What, what does that mean? How’d you do that so fast?” 

“It comes from Arabic and French. Literally, it means, ‘He is Dead’ or ‘The King is Dead.’ I did it so fast because I’m the Queen.”

” The Queen?” Tyler said confused. 

“Yes, we’re ruthless.” 

——–

©Mandibelle16. (2017) All Rights Reserved. 

Poem: Cleave Poem – “Honesty and Lies” #amwriting #poetry


honesty
http://www.terileigh.com

 

  1. Read the words in ‘regular’ font.
  2. Read the words in bold font only.
  3. Read the poem as you would a normal poem.

Such honest words / words brimming with vitriol,

I give to you, my heart and soul/ pricked by a venomous demonic snake, 

I leave you, all my virtue true/ virtue could cure the poison invading;

But you don’t believe in honesty/ to be rid of such hatred, such turmoil, such rage;

You’ve a game you call ‘secrets and lies’/pain incinerates, but you play on.

No one understands your game/ betting against yourself always, you incriminate.

You’ve set the rules/ I cannot win; I’m the pawn, I’m the fool.

You always score, each game, each set / you judge me; achieving a win, you’re guaranteed not to lose.

 You don’t understand your character flaw / why shouldn’t I try to fight steadfast for your love?

You’ve hubris; I’m afraid of your poetic downfall / the Bard wrote of love, can’t you read those poems?

Words reaching out as if they were / syllables of glass, shattered and splintered;

Creeping vines, ensnaring you / as if they were words, lavish with ardor, enchanting.

Trapping you until you cannot move / safekeeping your person; holding you dear.

Putting you in a sleeping spell, brier rose / I brush back your hair, as the drugged lethargy falls.

With benevolent sorcery, you’re reclaimed / you remain mine; unharmed and kept safe.

Asleep but a moment; complicated lies as clouds drift away / I, wondering why you chose deceit?

I offered you truth, the elder twin first / honesty is all I want to hear,

You chose deception, the younger sibling / I offer us both new life;

Your wicked lies entrap us both / hoping the only lies I hear from you again are white.

I can never concede to a life of falsehood/ there is compromise in honesty to be found.

My vines hold you tight / I’m guiding you, untangling you, from your web of lies.

Until honesty is the only breathe in your lungs/ until we both, only breath the truth of you and I.

©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved.