Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE WANDERER: 2. IN FRANCE: THE CHESSBOARD, by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE WANDERER: 2. IN FRANCE: THE CHESSBOARD, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: My little love, do you remember
Last Line: Play chess, as then we played together.
Alternate Author Name(s): Meredith, Owen; Lytton, 1st Earl Of; Lytton, Robert
Subject(s): Chess; France; Love - Beginnings; Travel; Journeys; Trips


MY little love, do you remember,
Ere we were grown so sadly wise,
Those evenings in the bleak December,
Curtained warm from the snowy weather,
When you and I played chess together,
Checkmated by each other's eyes?
Ah! still I see your soft white hand
Hovering warm o'er Queen and knight;
Brave Pawns in valiant battle stand;
The double Castles guard the wings;
The bishop, bent on distant things,
Moves, sidling, through the fight.
Our fingers touch; our glances meet,
And falter; falls your golden hair
Against my cheek; your bosom sweet
Is heaving. Down the field, your Queen
Rides slow, her soldiery all between,
And checks me unaware.
Ah me! the little battle's done:
Disperst is all its chivalry.
Full many a move since then have we
Mid life's perplexing checkers made,
And many a game with fortune played;
What is it we have won?
This, this at least, -- if this alone:
That never, never, nevermore,
As in those old still nights of yore,
(Ere we were grown so sadly wise.)
Can you and I shut out the skies,
Shut out the world and wintry weather,
And, eyes exchanging warmth with eyes,
Play chess, as then we played together.




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