“Checkmate!”

April Poetry Month Challenge: Poem 4 of 30

Sometimes your best move
isn’t the one you want to play.
You can look upon your chess board of life:
analyze, strategize, anticipate.
Sometimes their next move
will blind-side you.
But you don’t simply forfeit,
you must adjust.
You keep going, keep playing.
Sometimes you’ll have to lose your best piece,
but all to protect your kingly energy.
Before you know it,
you’ll have them cornered,
by your few remaining, straggling pawns — 
you’re playing the long-game.
All while smiling:
“Checkmate!”