Red ants scuttle across the sand,
each, his purpose known,
all aware of what they must do -
they don't need to be shown.
Black ants, likewise, know their duties,
according to their ranks,
all performing flawlessly -
you can take that to the bank.
Yet, the cards that passed through my hand,
colored black and red,
played themselves, most randomly -
and I've lost all I had.
The checkerboard queen was choosy about who she would play.
Her game pieces were expensive, she did not want them taken away.
She had her suspicions about so many players that it was crazy.
She especially did not like playing with those who were lazy.
What about Toby, Stew, Rutherford, Richard Charlie or Grease?
Have any of them ever upset you? Have they taken a token or piece?
The checkerboard queen quickly and methodically put her pieces away.
This is not the time, I am not doing any more playing today.
I’ve lived a hard life,
I’ve also lived one that was easy
You could say I earned the name Checkers,
so who will be the fool
who will crown me?
I lived on the noisy fringe a long time,
just scraping to get by
I lived in quiet seclusion too,
so peaceful Shangri-La
When God saw fit to move me
from one end to the other,
the checkerboard had a changing terrain
Now who will be the fool
I call my court jester,
singing to me songs of joy and pain?
At the edge of the board,
there’s enough room for high and low:
Checkers here lived up in the ivory tower,
Checkers here been dragged to the black pit below
So I ask, are you the fool
who will give me my scepter,
and tell me I’ve been the king
of a mad, mad, mad, mad world?
If not, then jump me and take my crown, please ...
but, do so at your own peril
Flies in the dark black as night
Cloak waving like wings… such a fright
It gives all the people, who are watching close by
Leering face makes children cry.
Always an angel with wings of pure white
Nearby….. waiting to put all things right
To wave a magic wand with a gentle smile
Making people smile again…. for awhile
Life is like that, shades of black and white
Days of depression cannot see the light.
Along comes someone who with a smile
Lightens your load…. Just for a while.
So the pantomimes at Christmas really reflect life
Stories from long ago so very lifelike
Dark followed by light happens in all of our lives
Like a checkerboard of black and white strife
Penned 15/2/2017