A Game of Chess

Two armies

On a checkered field are placed

Brother against brother

Ancient hatred retraced

Ishmael and Issac

Born of synonymous seed

The younger hewed ivory

The older ebony cleaved

Abraham's sons

Great nations promised both

Before God and their father

Each solemned an oath

God promised Ishmael

A kingdom to the East

To Isaac the land of Israel

A beleaguering decree

Cained anger and hatred

From jealousy both bred

Four thousand years of war

Soaked in familial bloodshed

Palestine and Zion

Contend as prophecy claims

A fight to the death protocol

Inflicting incessant pain

Playing board inhabitants

Living pillars of clay

Immaterial pieces

In their decimating fray

Eight times eight territorial squares

In equal order lie

Coveted streets and avenues with

Buildings concrete high

Unseasoned pawns stand motionless

Position marked with men

Theirs is not to question

Only secure ground and defend

 

These human shields protect the realm

Their fealty whole-hearted

Yet, when one is captured by a foe  

The loss is disregarded

 

Castling rooks protect their King

Placed purposely in harm's way

A power play by heads of state to

Capitalize and control the middle game

Cannoned Knights take position

Steadied, aim and fire

Razing disputed neighborhoods

Igniting funeral pyres

Bishops politic ferociously

Engaging explosive words

Maneuvering reality

Deploying military herds

The queens move about freely

Perusing dire deeds of death

Harbingers of diplomacy

Negotiating their nations' right to breath

The embolden Kings ignore them

Caching behind bastions of men

Preaching courage and chivalry to

Obedient infantry in Daniel’s den

Toy soldiers fall like thunder

On both sides of this gruesome grid

Angel of Death at War's auction

Has life hopelessly outbid

Another dawn drops metal tears

Of military dew

Will ever there be peace between

The Arab and the Jew?

 

© Frecklewood 2014

Reviews

[Display Name]

Dang. I really liked it. It flowed, it had substance in it's allusions and a lot of soul. Thanks for sharing this, it was a pleasure to read.

[Frecklewood]

Thank you very much for your words and your read! I look forward to reading you. (smile)

[W.k.kortas]

Timely stuff, wisely avoids any screaming or screeching. It's nicely constructed and very smooth. Well-crafted and effective work.