The Pawn

The pawn moves along

Pushing forward

     Never taking a step backwards

Ready to strike

    Ready to be sacrificed 

But,

 If the lone pawn

  Crosses the battlefield 

Miracles are made

   If the pawn can endure 

 The relentless attacks

  All of the counters

And all of the ripples on the board

   Well, then

The pawn can transform

From a simple pawn

   To a queen

To a bishop

  Or a knight

One pawn

  One move

One moment

   And the whole game can change

Steady

   As the pawn pushes forward

Unchecked

  Overlooked

Underestimated 

   The little pawn keeps pushing

Keeps going 

   Like a caterpillar 

Never knowing that it’ll have wings some day

   Crawling along on it’s belly for so long

Before one day it wakes up 

    Spreads its new wings

And soars through the skies . . .

  Yes, 

The pawn can fly

   If it only makes it to the other side

Never moving backwards

   The pawn doesn’t start off strong

No, the pawn starts of as the weakest piece

But stride after stride 

   It climbs 

With something stirring inside 

   Without any fear of being sacrificed 

Head down

   Until it’s arrived 

Head down

   Crawling along

Until it can fly.

And what is true for the pawn

Is also true

For you.

CH 1/30/25