Scacchic

Silhouette gathering against the board

necrotic hands extend to march

forward the front-lining pawns

set this macabre dance in motion

pryers web no longer vacant, 

he who is not shrouded, bereft and forlorn

brougham harbinger is gaunt

he gallops cautiously ahead 

while clock hands edging further still

test one an-others flightly will

bishop sails leaves trails of red

out on the board a side has bled

castles withdrawn from position 

hesitant of their next transition

forced to act with most precision

for all is altered with one decision

The arbiter has ceased to sit 

the opposition feeling frit 

for there is no adjournment

In deathly games of chess.