In my boredom I was pushing chessmen
as always at first offhandedly
that is to say just a game nothing serious
but when I moved the king
I understood that act of castling
was the most important of my life
I left home went onto the battlefield
not covered by friends
I understood what a mistake I was making
not taking care of pawns
not letting them matter much
just be cannon fodder
a salty wind blew in from the sea
bringing groans and screams
knights stumbled on sharp stones of language
ivory rooks still cherished
the hope of pure mind but I knew they would never enter
new territories they would stay alone
surrounded by the ignorant horde
bishops had freedom of movement
so they took the greatest risks
death visited them when they were speeding
they were my alter ego
true I pitied the queen
she guarded me
covered my weak spots
against the distant dangers protected me
from the black queen but could not by herself
defend me from the passion of the game
I was not facing death at the hands of a traitor
or because of a wrong word
what waited for me was the simplest mate

Translated by Harvey L. Hix and the author