Two men draw steel, take fighting stance
And thus begin their deadly dance.
To those about they both stand still
For none can see this test of will.

Both men prod and poke and seek
To see where others guard is weak.
But in their minds all this takes place
The only motion wind through lace.

A game of chess with life on line,
The loser wins a box of pine.
Neither wish this gruesome fate
So both men stand and watch and wait.


Feint, thrust, lunge, redouble.
No, This would only bring me trouble.
For he would vault while retaking guard
And then hoist me up on his petard.

If he doth take his line just so
I’ll parry hard my erstwhile foe
And if he were to then advance
I’d vault left and end this dance

And so it went for quite some time
This game of chess with life on line.
Waging war in mental state
While both men stand and watch and wait.


A wrist twitch here a small step there
To catch the other unaware
They try to draw each other in
To show their plan before they begin

They test each others guard and stance
To find their steps in this dire dance
Neither wishes to commit
Until they’re sure their blade will hit

This game of Chess with life on line
Draws to a close without a sign.
The game is played and now it’s mate
While both men stand and watch and wait.


And then at once too fast to track
Both men move in an attack
All around see naught but steel
But both men know what they do feel

For it seems both blades struck true
And each has run the other through
Neither man will walk away
Both, will die upon this day

Both men’s remains are taken clear
While two other men doth appear.
Two more have come to test their fate
Where both men did stand and watch and wait.