Sunday, January 30, 2011

May I please have the check, mate...

Image courtesy ChessKids

Sunday Scribblings' word for the week is 'Safe.'

My poem was written in the poetic form 'ZaniLa Rhyme.'  You can find out more about it at The Poets Garret.





 

 
Check It Out

Making that move might not be quite safe;
in fact, it could mean a threat.
Mistakes are made if unwisely played
moves by a chess statuette.

My advice is to think it all through
even if it might enchafe.
If unwisely played, mistakes are made
and your pieces won’t be safe.

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32 comments:

  1. Jae RoseJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    Thank you for a new word ('enchafe')..that makes me happy - as did your words..as carefully planned and well played as a game of chess..Jae :)

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  2. Understanding AliceJanuary 30, 2011 at 10:53 AM

    In chess, but not always in life :D

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  3. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Jae - thank you so much for your kind words!

    From what I learned today (while looking for rhymes for the word 'safe') the word 'enchafe' means to enrage - or chafe, but it is probably outdated, as it appeared in Webster's Dictionary of 1913.

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  4. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Alice - that is true.

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  5. Joseph HarkerJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    Hadn't seen this form before, thanks for introducing it! Also: I don't think I've stopped by your blog before. Remedying that. :)

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  6. flaubertJanuary 30, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    RJ, I believe life is like a game of
    chess at times. I enjoyed this very much.
    Pamela

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  7. Corey SchwartzJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    Oh, i LOVE how line 3 gets flipped! Very cool :)

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  8. AltonianJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    What are you trying to do - checkmate us all? Very clever poem.

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  9. Elizabeth JohnsonJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:49 PM

    Thanks for sharing this form... Interesting and creatively poemed!

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  10. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    Joseph - I'm so glad you stopped by! Thanks!

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  11. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    Pamela - thank you so much! ♥

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  12. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    Corey - thanks, It's the form. I may experiment with it for a while because it's fun but very challenging!

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  13. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Old Altonian - I don't think I could ever checkmate you! But thanks for the compliment, nonetheless!

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  14. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:40 PM

    Elizabeth - thank you so much! ☺

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  15. Other MaryJanuary 30, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    Very nice lite verse, and not just to be taken lightly!

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  16. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 5:24 PM

    Interesting observation, Mary. And thanks!

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  17. Old EggJanuary 30, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    I think it very important to use interesting words which may need an airing now and then. Curiously I have an old Chamber's dictionary which gives the meaning of enchafe as "Keep warm". However I read it as rubbing the wrong way which was pretty close.

    Thanks for making the brain tick over!

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  18. Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis HallJanuary 30, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    this is super smart piece.

    I love playing chess and checkers and more...

    thanks for visiting me.
    you rock...

    come to potluck tonight after 8pm.
    have fun!

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  19. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    My pleasure, OldEgg - and thank you!

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  20. RJ ClarkenJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:07 PM

    Thanks, Jingle!

    I bet you are really good at chess and checkers, too - aren't you? ☼

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  21. vivienne blakeJanuary 31, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Very wise...but it's only a game! :-O)

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  22. MaryJanuary 31, 2011 at 7:11 AM

    Moral: Look before you leap. Nice piece of writing. Haven't played chess in a while, but then life is a more challenging game.

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  23. LilibethJanuary 31, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    I love carefully crafted poems such as this.

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  24. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2011 at 8:47 AM

    "Enchafe." That word made me smile--and that move is always safe! ;D

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  25. Giving NetworkJanuary 31, 2011 at 9:09 AM

    Need to forward this to my chess player. You had me at the title! :-)

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  26. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Vivienne - that's what we all need to keep telling ourselves, huh?

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  27. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:27 AM

    Mary - thanks - and yep, life surely is a more challenging game.

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  28. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:56 AM

    Thank you so much, lilibeth! ♥

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  29. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Colette - isn't it funny how we love words that might have gone out of style (or use) because they still say things no other words really can say. Thanks!

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  30. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    Thanks so much, Elizabeth!

    I wanted to visit your site today to see what you've written, but for some reason, I got a message saying your site is not available for public viewing. Sorry.

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  31. UnknownJanuary 31, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    Oh, so fun!

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  32. RJ ClarkenJanuary 31, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Hey! Thanks, Kim! ☼

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