Checkmate

The king stood there, surveying the field;
The graveyard of his plans.
Forcing the enemy monarch to yield,
Here he makes his stand.

He sends a line of eager men,
Pawns beneath his rule,
To walk into the lions den,
To force a deadly duel.

A gallant knight astride his horse,
Rode out to meet the foe.
A terrifying battle force,
To crush the men below.

A bloody battle soon ensued,
With neither side conceding.
The mighty king began to brood,
His battle line receding.

Desperate for his victory,
He made one fatal error.
In went his Queen to gain glory;
She gained a stretcher-bearer.

A hole was made by faceless men,
Through the guarded  line.
To step into the enemies den,
Required a soldier with a spine.

The duty was quickly taken,
By a man of God, no less.
The enemies hearts were shaken,
By this bishop bringing death.

All hope was lost when, suddenly,
His foe made a mistake.
Their Lord gazed on forlornly,
As his men began to break.

The broken line was quickly shattered,
The men falling to the side.
The king's people, bruised and battered,
Set off to where their foes reside.

A journey fraught with every peril,
Those unthinking soldiers took.
Some would soon dine with the devil,
Their comrades in St.Peters book.

Yet beneath a blackened throne,
The gallant few amassed.
That day a tyrant overthrown,
Victory at last!

His army received many terrible blows.
His soldiers given a dreadful fate.
His honour lost to ancient foes.
He conceded check and mate.