Chess Sonnet

A friend wrote this for me...

Shall I compare thee to a back rank mate?

Thou art more captivating and rare

Rough moves do happen and then you take

Bare kings with only a queen rook pair

Sometimes too fast the game is play'd

And doubled pawns are left for dead

But were't not for hearts staunch blockade

Our checkered souls so leaden made

Do not so lightly use, the Sicilian's Defense

(for Kasparov has made it known)

The Game of Kings is not of chance

And settled only by hearts adjudication

And by this our pawns shall never part

For you've the checkmate of my heart.

- Anon

(with apologies to Wm. Shakespeare)