Backgammon

Like nature Darwin rolled the dice
And dug up the buried stones.
Lewis Carroll covered blots
And Thomas in his Monticello
Made his points to stand.
J. Edgar took a lover's leap

From ace to Tolson's twelve, 

Churchill held his anchors,
Never to resign,
And JFK brought his blockade
But Putin overplayed
And buried his own men.

You can be a host like Hefner
And bring your men to the table,
Roll the boys like Barbi Benton, 
Run a blitz like Jim Brown
Or a quiet play like Harpo
Or dance like Ginger Rogers

When you are stuck at the bar.
You can be Nero to match
The cruelty of fate,
Or Palamedes, a soldier
On a Trojan shore, uncertain
If you will ever find home.

Author's Note

Like a backgammon board this poem is divided into four sets of six, causing the lines to "leap" from one stanza to the next like pieces moving across a board. All of the persons mentioned are known backgammon players. (Palamedes is more mythic than historical, but according to myth he is the game's inventor.) The work consists mainly of word play connecting the person to some aspect of the game.

Reviews

[Chris]

The play was noticeable, the references brought an understanding smile. Sometimes it's just for fun, other times - well, we poets get serious too. I liked this one. Take care.