The board is laid
With pieces made
Solely for their roles.
Born a pawn
I soldiered on
A king deep in my soul.
I won each square –
Means foul or fair –
My foes I drove before me.
The lords and knights
applaud my fights
and silently deplore me;
“For all his heart
and subtle art
We cannot change our birth;
Cross the board,
become a Lord?
Aye, you have the worth –
But know you stand
In foreign land
And don’t forget your blood.
Drink the wine,
in silk recline,
But you suckled in the mud.”
