The Pawn

 Victoria Ivanova

As I often watch people playing chess

my eye follows one Pawn

that little by little finds his way

and manages to reach the last line in time.

He goes to the edge with such eagerness

that you reckon here surely will start

his enjoyments and his rewards.

He finds many hardships on the way.

Marchers hurl slanted lances at him;

the fortresses strike at him with their wide

flanks; within two of their squares

speedy horsemen artfully

seek to stop him from advancing

and here and there in a cornering menace

a pawn emerges on his path

sent from the enemy camp.

But he is saved from all perils

and he manages to reach the last line in time

How triumphantly he gets there in time,

to the formidable last line;

how eagerly he approaches his own death!

For here the Pawn will perish

and all his pains were only for this.

He came to fall in the Hades of chess

to resurrect from the grave

the queen who will save us.

C.P. Cavafy