Chess Poem

Submitted by Rael on Wed, 05/14/2008 at 3:12pm.

I've been trying to marry my two passions for a while, and I finally composed a poem about chess. It's somewhat short, but I like aspects of it.

CHESS

Meet me then, within this grid,
this little wooden battlefield as equals,
as we forget our bodies to inhabit these pieces,
control these spaces, trade threats and responses,
send our thoughts out into possible positions, our eyes
imagining nothing but sweet forks and lancing fianchettoes.
We chessplayers, pretend enemies, bound to our miniature war
inexplicably & inescapably: when did we find ourselves so obsessed,
insidiously seduced to advances and exchanges, lost inside
this abyss of infinite moves, willing servants of it's rules?

- Rael

» posted in Rael's Blog

402 reads | 21 comments

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Comments:

by pcflyer - 47 days ago
CA United States

Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 474

NICE!

by Bowens - 48 days ago
San Francisco United States

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 143

You are perceptive, Rael, to notice how conegnially chess lends itself to poetry. To put chess into poetry is as painting from a sculpture; both are simply transferring art from one medium to another.

That said, here is my humble contribution, an original work, in lyric form:

The Spanish Game
In a kingdom of dark and light,
eight by eight in circum-sight,
a gaping battle line was hew,
‘twixt kings and hearty retinue.

Behind a wave of pawns they stood,
this royal blood infused in wood,
and began to plot their violent coup
to rout and rend the other crew.

Flanked first by Towers full of might
and next by steeds supporting Knights,
Advisors guard the Royal Two,
attacking all within purview.

And in each court they proudly schemed
of fork, and pin, and ruinous themes,
to cast upon the other lot
a curse; let loss be your burden, and mine not!.

How vain! As yet these swarms were calm
as fits the calm before a storm,
but here the peace was ripped apart
by a single stab, at the enemy heart!

Then stab met stab, and battle stalled,
till Knight f3! the fair King called,
and to this gesture the other knew
that Knight c6! would see him through.

And so deployed by each their few,
with fearsome purpose, their retinue.
A pin, a counter, a pin renewed!
A stalwart block to pin ensued…

Yet pin with pin their parries met,
and equilibrious blood was let;
with each fell blow retainers fled
to join the ranks of honored dead,

till stood four royals with shifty glance,
with each a pawn in royal stance.
A Queen, a King, and Princess now,
battle-weary and hot, but proud.

Yet here at least, in brief respite,
their hatred embers of neon light;
a Pyrrhic end was all but sure,
and the haughty kings were now demure.

So with cautious step did each advance,
wary of the circumstance,
toward the weakened house of foe,
to drive the final, fateful blow.

And by this dance each house did see,
the loss of one so brave-naïve,
she fancied face the other’s Queen,
but found her breast pierced, and the other's sword keen!

At last this woe, too much to bear,
left Light and Dark rife with despair,
who in their greedy struggles thought
victory for one, the other naught!

But never could they have foreseen
a fate so cruel and wholly mean;
the day was lost, both houses knew.
So with tearful eyes, and trembling too,
they shook hands, with grief, and solemnly drew.

-Brandon J. Owens

http://blog.chess.com/Bowens/the-spanish-game-a-poem

by Ilikelamborghinis - 50 days ago
Brownsville United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 1642

Very good!

by sakura22 - 51 days ago
Burning it out in the 580 United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 6983

Very Nice!!!!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

by 2nd111 - 51 days ago
Stratford-Upon-Avon United Kingdom

Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 15

WOW!! that was really good and i see wat u mean by 'find ourselves obsessed' cos ur right it can take over u! keep writing ur a natural talent! ;o))

2nd111xx

by nimbus - 53 days ago
North East United Kingdom

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 51

Unfinished Chess battle rap

Pawn to the mothf*ckin c4 homeboy, pawn to the motherf*ckin c4! Knockin on yr door like you know the score. I threw away the book b4 you had a look.

Got your whole army in defeat, before you move a piece, just drop your king now a save yourself a beat...ing, our game is flee...ting, your moves are my...thing, you're just my play ...thing.

Pawn to the mothf*ckin c4 homeboy, pawn to the motherf*ckin c4! Knockin on yr door like you know the score. I threw away the book b4 you had a look.

My eyes are in your mind you'll find, don't think I'm gonna be kind. Stand by and watch you hurt my rate? no way yo coz losses I am hate...ing hehe! That move has me laugh...ing, you did the wrong...thing, you're just my play...thing.

fork you and you weak position too

(gratuitous bit of dodgy scratchin')

ad nauseam

Nimbus

by Kooterbobette - 2 months ago
United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 253

You can make a poem of anything.

by Nerd_Child - 2 months ago
Idaho United States

Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 14

Sweet! I can definitely understand the "we forget our bodies" part. Sometimes I concentrate so hard on the chessboard that when someone starts talking right next to me I jump. Either that or completely not hear them. I like your style!

by OSUBUCKEYE - 2 months ago
Riverside,Ca United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 382

nice job!

by LATITUDE - 2 months ago
USA United States

Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 338

Why is chess a hard topic to nail down in poetry? I do no agree a bit on that. Poetry is a free expression of our minds involved with worlds and lexica. Rael just exhibited it nicely. Everybody should give it a try. More poetry …..

Here are my 3 cents:

White, black, white, black, white, black, white, black, white, black, white, black, white, black, white black, white, black, white. Sometimes I fell so uninspired, sometimes I feel like I’m alone, sometimes I see your horizon and always like Marco Polo. (Piano playing continually the C F)

by rookierae - 2 months ago
Pennsylvania United States

Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 81

Good job. Well written.

by Bowens - 3 months ago
San Francisco United States

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 143

"Of armies on the chequer'd field array'd,

And guiltless war in pleasing form display'd;

When two bold kings contend with vain alarms,

In ivory this, and that in ebon arms..."

So begins the classic poem by Sir WIlliam Jones, which birthed, into modern literature, Caissa, Goddess of Chess.

Visit here if you wish to read the rest (It is quite long!):

http://www.chessdryad.com/caissa/caissa.htm

by killGoose - 3 months ago
Puerto Rico

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 251

"willing servants of it's rules?" Gosh, what a line! I have a few rules to break. I challenge you to it. Ask me about it.

Everything is well put. You are a thoughtful poet. But Rap? Rap??? For pete's sakes! Guitar riffs????!!!! If anything, this poem should be recited to the smooth sounds of 50's jazz. Add a black turtle neck and a snap+snap!

Aren't poetry and chess graceful dance partners?