Checkmate Poem by Gagan Khurana

He conquered every game much effortlessly,
his Mother thinks, she blessed with a prodigy.

He played cricket in his younger days,
a boy who could spin the ball both ways.

In Football wars, both his legs speak,
each pass, each strike, each shot seems so unique.

In Rummy and Poker, he chose 'Stu Ungar',
the legend, he studied, when he was quite younger.

For all his friends and siblings solving Rubik's cube was cloaked in mystery,
but even before 11, he saw through chaos and knew exactly where each cube block should be.

Before his voice had even changed,
he'd checkmate men thrice his age.
While his classmates played with toys and clay,
he studied games, the chess grandmasters play.

In 'Antakshari' also, from retro hits to modern beats,
he always crushed his opponents and claim all seats.
From Kishore Kumar to Arijit,
he ruled 'Antakshari' almost every bit.

Not just a prodigy of mind's bright glow,
he also ruled his college fields with the game of hammer throw.

So, as you can see,
He knows the trick behind each game,
yet his life outplayed him with just the same.

Every game he played to win,
but life out moved him from within.
Life out moved him from within,
Life out moved him from within.



© Gagan Khurana