When he was still quite young
He learnt that if you want to stay alive
You have to be as cunning as you can.
The board extends as far as the eye can see,
And he is just an ordinary Pawn.
He has to go from square to square, with utmost thought.
The game he played was never easy;
Far and wide, in all directions were deployed
Pawns
Heartless,
Bloodthirsty in the extreme,
Hard, merciless,
And very cunning,
Taking in their control
The entire board;
Intent only upon checkmating him.
Whenever he moved
He encountered
Each new square concealing a new ambush.
But he survived,
He progressed,
One house,
Another house,
A third house.
Sometimes he drew near to others,
Sometimes he moved far away.
But he survived,
He progressed.
Although he was a humble pawn, he won.
And so, one day, he became a great pawn,
Now he is safe within one square;
So safe that let alone his enemies
Not even his friends can approach him.

In one hand he clasps victory.
In the other he clutches loneliness.