A Queen's Gambit
An orphaned child in a home locked away,
A misfit yearning for a place to stay.
A single bulb in the basement glowed—
Where she played chess with the janitor, silent and slow.
She might have been taught the specifics of the game,
Little did anyone know she was queen of the same-
Losing herself in the black and white squares of the game,
With herself as the bested opponent .
A prodigy she was, but so much more,
A predator lurking behind closed doors-
Seldom she found herself mixing chemicals with her brain-
Hoping for a respite, hoping for hope.
She strived to be identified as more than her gender,
She wanted her circumstances to be recognised to not be tender.
Feeling like she never could rely on anyone;
Found some mates in the most unexpected mirrors.
She saw through people's heads, saw through the stakes,
Indulged their games and drew them in with fakes -
She bested herself when she became world champion,
A russian semblance only to belong to chess corners.
She became a force to be reckoned with-
A Queen in her name, a queen among men,
From Moscow’s cold to global acclaim,
She became the queen—not just of the game.
A force in focus, fierce and deft,
Not just a woman—she is Beth.
Copyright © Susnatha Gupta | Year Posted 2025
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