deepundergroundpoetry.com
For Queen & Country1 - The Chessboard Series: QNxKB
The Pledge of the Queens' Knight
my dear Queen
you are the morning rose
that greets defrosting dawn
your light reaches beyond
my coordinates and domain
you are all powerful
the embodiment of mother earth
everlasting in all things beautiful
through all things fair
beyond what I could ever imagine
as your Minor
I raise my sword and shield
in your honour
I ride into battle
with your flag flapping above my helm
and though my resolve is strong
you my Lady
are far stronger
I pin down your Coat of Arms
upon my solar plexus
the colours of your heraldry
are in the clasp of my gauntlet
I bear your name
within the armour of my heart
lift me up that my forking will deliver
bless my steed
with hooves of steadfastness
I charge at thy foes
with the lance of your making
a sure strike, a deadly strike
a swift end to those that rise up against thee……
my dear Queen
you are the morning rose
that greets defrosting dawn
your light reaches beyond
my coordinates and domain
you are all powerful
the embodiment of mother earth
everlasting in all things beautiful
through all things fair
beyond what I could ever imagine
as your Minor
I raise my sword and shield
in your honour
I ride into battle
with your flag flapping above my helm
and though my resolve is strong
you my Lady
are far stronger
I pin down your Coat of Arms
upon my solar plexus
the colours of your heraldry
are in the clasp of my gauntlet
I bear your name
within the armour of my heart
lift me up that my forking will deliver
bless my steed
with hooves of steadfastness
I charge at thy foes
with the lance of your making
a sure strike, a deadly strike
a swift end to those that rise up against thee……
Published 12th May 2022
Author's Note
animating chesspieces on 15th Century battlefields - each of them have unique allegiance with the Queen - somewhat fatalistic given the uncertainty of war and forbidden devotions
© BHWW 2008
aka CanisInc-Untis
© BHWW 2008
aka CanisInc-Untis
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
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The author encourages honest critique.
13th May 2022 4:44am
So this is pretty awesome CIU.
I love the whole medieval vibe and so eloquently put together.
Great metaphors throughout the whole piece. Great style of writing.
I love the whole medieval vibe and so eloquently put together.
Great metaphors throughout the whole piece. Great style of writing.
16th May 2022 7:48am
thanks muchly Adelphina
I tried to come in from a different angle with the whole chivalry thing,
giving a voice to the pieces, and even though the game of chess reflects feudal society, (inevitabley replaced by capitalism and longstanding armies)
- they say behind every strong man is a strong woman, and some Queens were great in their own right, such as the infamous She-Wolves of history and mythology
-CIU
I tried to come in from a different angle with the whole chivalry thing,
giving a voice to the pieces, and even though the game of chess reflects feudal society, (inevitabley replaced by capitalism and longstanding armies)
- they say behind every strong man is a strong woman, and some Queens were great in their own right, such as the infamous She-Wolves of history and mythology
-CIU
16th May 2022 10:48am
dear BluV, thankyou for your most welcome feedback and once again I am grateful for your kindness
U have resonated and on hit on 3 nails deadcentre-
1- as a backyard chessplayer I learnt a healthy respect for the Queen from early days, however I also learned how to use the combination of Queen & Knight to deadly effect upon opponents, and so their partnership/relationship is significant to me and reflected in verse
2- I actually innovated a round-table chessboard and patentable system of rules (as have other variants) years ago, and this launched the idea into literary expression, which is what you see now, so your reference to Knights of the Round Table is right on the mark, as I grew up on Arthurian Legends and mythologies. They counselled in war, and I just took things a step further and made it into a realm of battle (as did the Byzantine Empire who are the true inventors of the concept)
3- GOT is one of my most favourite series - not only does it derive inspiration from the Wars of the Roses (which in my opinion was a more honourable way of waging war than the 100 Years War) and the Roman Empire,
but to the relief of the depraved it parcels out all the badness of human nature & carnality from one story that they could hope for, with a sidepack of fantasy & mythology for good measure,
and there are those scenes of war counsels pouring over thick benchtop cutouts of Westeros and some hotblooded mounting on them, which I did to the exfiance on the round board in much the same way (that no one else knew about)
-CIU
U have resonated and on hit on 3 nails deadcentre-
1- as a backyard chessplayer I learnt a healthy respect for the Queen from early days, however I also learned how to use the combination of Queen & Knight to deadly effect upon opponents, and so their partnership/relationship is significant to me and reflected in verse
2- I actually innovated a round-table chessboard and patentable system of rules (as have other variants) years ago, and this launched the idea into literary expression, which is what you see now, so your reference to Knights of the Round Table is right on the mark, as I grew up on Arthurian Legends and mythologies. They counselled in war, and I just took things a step further and made it into a realm of battle (as did the Byzantine Empire who are the true inventors of the concept)
3- GOT is one of my most favourite series - not only does it derive inspiration from the Wars of the Roses (which in my opinion was a more honourable way of waging war than the 100 Years War) and the Roman Empire,
but to the relief of the depraved it parcels out all the badness of human nature & carnality from one story that they could hope for, with a sidepack of fantasy & mythology for good measure,
and there are those scenes of war counsels pouring over thick benchtop cutouts of Westeros and some hotblooded mounting on them, which I did to the exfiance on the round board in much the same way (that no one else knew about)
-CIU
