Knights

They leap from light to dark, and back to light,

Unhindered by the walls that block their way.

Their movements seem to go askew and stray

From other pieces’ patterns. Every knight

Maneuvers round the structures of the game

With incremental progress, left, then right,

Until it finds a place to ease the plight

Of all whose movements fail to fit the frame

Defined by what is typical for most.

Its skilled maneuvers push aside the shame

And show its quality, of course the same

As others on the board. And so, the host

Accepts the ones they’d shunned until today,

But none should need to prove such worth to play.

 

This is the second poem in a series inspired by chess. Last week, we focused on bishops, and this week, we're focusing on knights. To me, knights have always felt a bit like the misfit among the chess pieces, because their movement pattern is so different - one square forward, backward, left, or right, then one square diagonally. Plus, they can jump over pieces that are in their way. They can't move as far or strike as quickly as others like bishops, rooks, or queens, but they can be very maneuverable and useful. This poem essentially uses knights as a metaphor for those who may be outcast by society, emphasizing that they have something valuable to offer and should be included along with everyone else.