Checkmate

• Austin Li, Grade 5
• Poetry
• 2021

The queen was smacked by the bishop,
As her castle struck down the knight,
And a king ran from another,
As a pawn observed the fight.
One man against the other,
Strategy, power, attack,
The fiercely defended male monarch,
His troops have got his back.
Towers collapsing, noble deaths,
Brave sacrifices to serve their guide,
Strategies breaking, hours of sweat
Devoted to come to their general’s side.
Move after move, play after play,
Then a rook rose up, to save the day.
He cornered the king, on a piece of black slate,
And so, it ended – with a final “Checkmate”