Fourteenth Move - White

White: Bd3

Alas, the King is on the move

and we, his subjects, with him,

no time to dose in shady grove

or ponder streams soft rhythm,

Like a clan of gypsies go

sleepless through the night,

no violin nor tambourine though

have we on our flight.

Fourteenth Move - Black

Black: Na6

King Black told his forces to be on the move

With honor and glory and full faith to prove

So our Knight leapt the walls with extreme derring-do

And did chomp at the bit for the fight to ensue.

The Fortunes of War stretching tight on the loom

Would weave warp and woof of the wicked White's doom

Fifteenth Move - White

White: Re1

Overheard of two pawns, on f2 and g2 respectively:

"Alexei, turn thyself about

away from battleline,

and gaze upon that tower tall

of earth and stone refined,

My friend it seems that I'm confused!

Abuse me not I pray,

for yesterday it seemed quite far,

yet stands so close today!"

"Dmitri, we have lost our minds!

it moved just as you've said,

for behold as it rumbled by

some mortar hit my head!

And if said mortar beaned me thus,

then much it would explain,

walking castles, talking pawns,

I think I've gone insane!"

Fifteenth Move - Black

Black: Nc5

Sakes alive, now it says in this book

What once was a chariot we now call a rook;

The bishop, that pinhead, is really a bowman.

I'm learnin' stuff, man; take that as an omen!

Sixteenth Move - White

White: Ke2

I awoke as I wandered down night-darkened hall,

The placid moon my only guide,

My body was heeding my spirit's sad call

And rose up to search for my bride.

"Ah, Brother Ass, you pathetic old fool!

To you she's no longer betrothed,

But dwells in God's crown as a newly-placed jewel,

In splendour and radiance clothed."

Sixteenth Move - Black

Black: N x d3

A Gallant hard charges through White's wintry world

And quick contemplates his full faith in our Christ.

This lifetime of warfare with flags all unfurled

Soon ends as he offers supreme sacrifice.

With thoughts of his savior, that bold ebon pearl,

He wonders if glory is bought at such price.

Seventeenth Move - White

White: c x d3

Whirling Knight, why comest thou into our fortress ring?

Perhaps you wish an audience with our most stately King?

Pardon me, for obviously, thou art a man of rank,

But for a guest, you're quite a mess, with muddied hooves and flank!

Come down here and I will have a bath for thee prepared,

and send your sword off to our smith and have it's hilt repaired.

There you see, the water's hot, and you can cleanse each speck,

My gallant friend, at poems end, I wring your filthy neck!

Seventeenth Move - Black

Black: Re8 (check)

Sound the alarm, call to arms, attack

Our foe has struck again a coward's blow

Cause the White to fight both front and back

Show the cretin hoard the rage of Black

Chase them 'til they have no place to go

Sound the alarm, call to arms, attack.

Slay the pale and godless mongrel pack

Give them no respect as honored foe

Cause the White to fight both front and back

Stretch the King's bones upon the rack

And bruise his body full from skull to toe

Sound the alarm, call to arms, attack.

Topple steeples, all the churches sack

No stone will this pillage forego

Cause the White to fight both front and back

Bold and grand will be the reign of Black

But now mercy to the enemy bestow

Sound the alarm, call to arms, attack.

Cause the White to fight both front and back

Eighteenth Move - White

White: Kf1

"Sire please, you must stay down,

And take care of thy noble crown,

Lest while peering over wall,

Thou invitest cannonball!"

Eighteenth Move - Black

Black: R x e1

Gideon blow, that earth shall rumble

Foundation crack and wall all tumble.

Expose the White to wind and rain

And cause them never-ending pain.

Nineteenth Move - White

White: K x e1

What ho, gentlemen!

I spy her there ahead!

Standing fierce in glory dark,

in stature tall and dread!

Her beauty is not lost on us,

for we are learned men

and what is brought unto the ground

shall never rise again.

So let's give pause, we agents of ruin,

Before we strike the flame

And bring to naught what builder wrought,

And on our heads the shame.

Nineteenth Move - Black

Black - Bf5

the snow softly falls upon living and passed

and seeks to erase all the havoc so recent

it bleaches the boughs and the slim blades of grass

and covers the signs of a mankind indecent

but canons on high have not belched out their last

they drown out the words to be shared in this season

Twentieth Move - White

White: d4

My confessions, true, are overdue

but not unto the likes of you.

You gloomy pair with eyes aflare,

To leave this church is my one prayer!

Twentieth Move - Black

Black: Be7

A tempting sweet morsel now dangles before us.

'Tis hard to quiet the clamoring chorus

That beckons for blows to be dealt to the Taurus.

But poison pure glistens from every pore.

The death of this Pawn would, yes, even the score

But how quickly would tilt the grim fortunes of War.

And so we pass by this delectable treat.

Mistakes of the past we wish not to repeat,

So our brave ebon Bishop secures a retreat.

Twenty-first Move - White

White: Be3

And now I join the Bishops' dance,

With caution first, but if by chance

My robes do not entangle me,

I'll spin about so fancy free.

Now once that's done, I'll further dare

To find a lady fine and fair,

Her beauty true my love may rouse,

Then I may rue my priestly vows.

Twenty-first Move - Black

Black: Be6

Hark! The wolf is on the prowl

Silent soars the predator owl

Assassin skulks 'neath ebon cowl

Brave young worthies dressed in white

Think they see an end in sight

Know not yet they've lost this fight

Twenty-second Move - White

White: Ng5

Lord save the solitary knight,

Protect him on his lonely flight,

So far from happy town of birth,

From maiden's blush and tavern's mirth.

Lord strengthen now his weary horse

And guide him on his crooked course,

Compelled his armored load to bear,

The journey ends he knows not where.

Lord from whom all blessings flow,

Whose angels travel to and fro,

Sustain the wand'rer in the night,

And grant them rest both black and white.

Twenty-second Move - Black

Black: Bb4 (check)

All White in Arms must on this day repent!

Our Bishop offers grace to all who heed.

The wickedness of how your days are spent

Will wash away, in sooth, with all God's Speed.

A Baptism of Fire we do propose!

We'll rest the burning bush upon your head

And you'll rise to meet the day with gold haloes.

(Before rebirth you must, of course, be dead.)

Twenty-third Move - White

White: Bd2

Baptism by fire? Why I suppose

We may just burn as you propose,

But a question now I put to thee:

Do we still need these Bishops three?

And should they not in self-denial

Be the first upon the pile?

Agree? Well good, I'm glad that's so,

And you may choose the first to go!

Bishop light or bishop dark,

Who'll be the flint provides the spark?

He'll pave the way to Kingdom Come,

diagonally to martyrdom!

Twenty-third Move - Black

Black: Bd6

The Bishops Council calls its Conf'rence.

Our two Mitres form the See

And ponder White's last correspondence.

Recalcitrance, it seems to be.

"Our response is most important,"

Says one Mitre to his mate.

"We must try to sow discordance

So we then might seal their fate."

"Now pray that God approve our aim

For in truth, on bended knee,

Where any two meet in our Lord's name

There the Lord is sure to be."

Twenty-fourth Move - White

White: N x e6

I have journeyed this great distance

To carry out the plan decreed,

And thus I yield to fate's insistence

Upon one last heroic deed.

With the zeal that's surely due it

I give myself unto the flame,

up to the hilt and thrusting through it

I hear the angels sing my name.

Twenty-fourth Move - Black

Black: f x e6

The church towers ring death's peal.

For the warrior-priest, the ebon now kneel

And murmur soft praises, his passage to seal.

And if White Knight doth seek self-sacrifice

No grieving Black blade will need hear of it twice,

Though such blood as we shed cannot nearly suffice.

On this altar of death we will lay now this pair

Two creatures of violence who knew not despair

But fought with courage to the end they now share.

Twenty-fifth Move - White

White: Kf1

The King has grown weary with his Council of War,

"I no longer can stand all this prattle!

Four times assassins have crouched at my door

While you stood about lowing like cattle!"

"Gentlemen, the time for debating is past,

I, too, must rise up 'gainst this hoard,

So send for my horse, stop standing aghast,

Now what did I do with that sword?"

Twenty-fifth Move - Black

Black: Rc8

Swords gleam in the sun

Home and hearth abandoned

The end-times are near