The Persian Chessboard

supposed beginning of the game called Chess

 

The Persian Chessboard

as the story goes, it happend in Persia

could have been India, or even in China

the King was bored, so he looked for someone wiser

the Grand Vizier, being the principle advisor

entertain me the King said, challenge my senses

I need something different, I'm tired of burning fences

the Vizier scratched his chin, and stared straight ahead

how about a new game, where you have to use your head

we'll use moving pieces, on black and white squares

the King will be the major piece, the rest nobody cares

capture the opponents King, to make him surrender

be careful of the others, the ones who are pretender

we can call it 'shahmat', or death to the King

and when this death is proclaimed, everybody sing

the final move is checkmate, there will be no place to run

the game sometimes in real life, the loser had no fun

the pawns and the knights, each one fell to the side

eventually then an added piece, the King's special bride

the Queen was entered in, she also had some power

she was just as deadly, cutthroat behind you in the shower

the King was very pleased, he granted Vizier a treasure

he told him, pick your price, anything you pleasure

the Vizier tried to trick the King, he made mistake instead

the game lived on and on, but the Vizier turned up dead

Gomer LePoet...

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I like this story. You create a vision of a time when men were push to learn and challenge. Chess is my favorite game. I haven't played in years. I like how you stated the truth of a Queen. Thank you for the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[Dupree]

Very impressive Gomer. I like the view and how you took a game and turned it into more

[R E Tree]

I liked the ending. Chess is a competitive game and I get imagery of a chess set with two people ready to battle. I've been good at chess but once I lost I didn't want to continue with it. Overall the poem reminds me of how good it feels to win

[Sera]

beautiful when u read it you can picture a middle eastern feel :)

[Truly Ross-Wisehart]

An interesting take on the lore of chess. I like how you told it in poetic form. Nice rhyme scheme as well. Very well done.

~True

[deeps]

This is wonderful, i found it cute as well

[SamBug]

This was interesting to read. Great job!

[Wicahpi]

"The PersiAn Chessboard"
This is an interesting poem on the game of Chess.
I like it; the imagery, the story and how each piece
plays in the story. I think the Queen is the most
important piece. Well done!

[Ruth]

Interesting love!
Life is a game of chess at times!
Your poem portrays this very well
Love it
xx

[Devons]

This is a fascinating piece of work, my friend - history, legend, and poetry all combined as one. It's a great story, true or not, and it reads very well indeed; with the rhythm and rhyme functioning together in tune. There is still a trace of your trademark humour here and there, but on the whole this leaves this reader with the impression that he has just discovered an ancient parable contained untouched for centuries within the vaults of a church.. One day to become a bedtime favourite handed down through the generations.
It's amazing what relevance the game of chess has to life - but then life is a kind of game of conflict...just a little more dangerous if you lose. As the Vizier discovered.
"how about a new game, where you have to use your head?"
....I love that line. It hints to me of the elitist nature of the game, like a warning to Monopoly and card players: "Not for dumbasses"