Tag: Pawn

Cough and Breakfast

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The next trip was a fall, but I lacked ground
How could I be grounded, being born in the Most High?
How could I be so high when the lowly are close to the Lord’s eye
I know why
I know why I would cry
I know why, no matter what I said, I was unheard
Because no man, no matter how female she is, was born to be prayed to

The hills didn’t heal me, though I climbed up the rungs of wrong rights
Wrong rites, yes, because everything is part of a ritual to make you rich in something
Reach for something
Sum things up and find the difference between breathing and being alive.

But I forgot…

I forgot the lessons the lashes had whipped into my health
I forgot that I couldn’t get new life from the words death spelt
Life had to die just to give death Life
Tell another man’s cake to avoid my knife

The next trip was a fall, but I’m a flying thunder god
Kuchiyose Arome sermons, I sank in Word
Water’s still the best reply to artless mud
Affidavit in the heavens with my new name
Only thing I really lack is enough shame
But I forgot all that once the trip started
If you knew your Delilah, would you stick the chicks prescribed
Or let your cock crow while avoiding getting haircuts?

I forgot…

But the Spirit is soul-syrup and dinner for two
And the pawn becomes a Knight in Ephesians Six Armour
Pilgrim-steeze, and abundant life is the final destination
Soldier Boy, tell them where your heart is hidden

Make me stronger, Lord
To say no to yeye
Take my heart away
Hide it where they cannot steal it
Where they cannot break it

The next trip…

Godzniel
©2026

Kings and Pawns

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“We’re all Kings and Pawns,”
Napoleon Bonaparte once said,
“We’re all Emperors.”
“We’re all Fools.”

Funny he should say that.
We, like two Kingdoms, square up.
Blacks against Whites.
Decisions. Decisions.

What’s in your hand, sir?

King Pawn to King Four.
Small beginning steps we take
Believing we’re each of us
The only star in our own movie.

But Knight to Queen’s Bishop Three.
Counter moves from counter selves
We sabotage our own efforts
And wonder what’s afoot.

We’re all Kings and Pawns
Though each man in his own heart
Thinks himself different from all.
Superior to all the human-ness.

What’s in your hand, ma’am?

When Bishop takes Bishop,
And we face our true desires
We all deny our deepest truths
For Ego’s sake, for Pride’s joy.

What miserable life we lead
As we approach our end-games
This chessboard cleared of all
And the space evident in all things?

Queen to King’s Rook Three.
Discover Check. And trouble finds us.
Run we may, but hide we can’t.
Now matter where we turn to.

What is this you have in your hand,
Oh fallen man – son of Eve?
What is this you carry in your heart
Oh, daughter of the damned?

If King takes Knight Pawn,
I hope never again will it be said
That we sought for what we knew not
And that all man listened to his own heart.

We’re all Kings and Pawns,
A man once said to the world.
And he – that brilliant devil – he was right.
We’re all – all of us – Emperors. Fools.

Ask not what Mgbeke plans for dinner.
Wonder not when Mgbafo will get married.
What’s in your hand, people of God?
Mind your own business.

Nonso John
(C) 2021