The Peon by Rob Anderson Off on his own He stood to the side Defenseless and undefended Ignored by the swarming horde The peon witnessed the slaughter. Brave Knights cruelly slain Assaulting tall Castles Impregnable. Sacrificing their lives in defense of the Queen. While Bishops bold and hell bent on revenge Raged in righteous fury. Baptized in cold blood They cross then re-cross Advancing and retreating Feinting left, attacking right They skirt the enemy defenses Probing, searching for weaknesses. Breaching the wall to lay siege on the King Trapped then behind barriers of his own design. His Queen with her wandering ways too long delayed No aid or assistance from her forthcoming and powerless To halt the progress of the threat that advanced un-stoppable. Un-opposed & un-hindered, nothing in his path, he rushes forward. Too long ignored and scorned in pursuit of the King's high courtiers The peon, in passing, snatches sweet victory from the jaws of defeat.