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They are only Chess Pieces

They are only chess pieces on a wooden board,
Mimetically carved, and beautifully flawed.

They arise unfurled, in a monochrome world,
Their moves are designed; their control resigned.
To take or be taken, to ponder the mistaken,                                 And should the scales tip, will they triumph or slip?

They are only chess pieces on a wooden board,
Mimetically carved, and beautifully flawed.

Who cares if they prevail? Who cares if they fail?
In a skirmish of wills, and ephemeral thrills,
A chequered life winks past, not destined to last,
Until the helmsman reckons, and the old box beckons.

They are only chess pieces on a wooden board,
Mimetically carved, and beautifully flawed.

Reviews

Puny, flawed, but beautiful
Written by mia_ms_kim (975 comments posted) 20th April 2008

I really like this. I find the repeated line, "Mimetically carved, and beautifully flawed" beautiful. The line "They arise unfurled, in a monochrome world" I find very interesting as if the pieces are mimicking life. I guess that's what this piece is saying??? We are but chess pieces on the stage of life? Not even colour, but black and white! Phew! I tend to agree. (I think we sadly suffer from colour-blindness.)

I found the 2nd last stanza poignant, every line. "skirmish of wills, and ephemeral thrills" basically describes the ultimately petty and puny things in life we attach great importance to and stress about. I felt an acute empathy for the "chequered life" that "winks past."

"Until the helmsman reckons, and the old box beckons." Self-explanatory, I think. True, but not sad for some reason. This fact alone should put many things in life into proper perspective, and put us in our place, I think.

I like the way it finishes with the repetition. It still attributes great significance and beauty to the flawed human existence.

Really enjoyed. Beautiful.

Mia

Written by Orlock (7 comments posted) 21st April 2008

Thanks for the kind review, Mia. You have captured the essence of what I was trying to convey in the poem perfectly. :grin

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