Playing Chess at Starbucks

A poem about an experience in which the life of one my friends was (jokingly?) wagered on the outcome of a chess game.

The board was outdated, with a missing piece or two,

And the game overplayed amongst my relations,

But the air was charged with a challenge (or three, on this occasion).

And my stomach turned, my nerves squirmed

Under the pressure of making each move.

The coffee was hot, and a bit too strong,

But perhaps that was my perception

For the battle seemed quick,

Yet much too prolonged in its progression.  

The stakes were high,

But the exchange was low and linguistic

"Do or die,"

The collateral was persistent.

In the end, we were all but pawns,

Fighting for a chance to be Queen.

But the soldier was weak, and refused to go on,

So the outcome was never to be seen.

Reviews

[emipoemi]

Another thought-provoking gem that is highly evocative of my all-time favourite Borges poem ("Ajedrez"). If such was what you were going for, which in part I find unlikely - but just in case - you really put an interesting spin on the message of the great Argentine's poem, and the imagery is so striking and the poem as a whole so profound, I can almost say you outdid the Argentine (almost....not quite). Well done!!

(if as I suspect, you never even heard of the poet let alone the poem specified, then it's a weird coincidence that those similarities are there.... someone in your past life must have known Borges or something lol)

[Briana Noël Manzano]

You are correct in that I have never heard of that poem or poet. But now I'll have to look into it! :)