He stares into the game,
The odds against him,
A man on the edge of loss,
A game he cannot win.

But the man is canny,
And has played before,
Knows how to turn the tide,
No idea what he’s fighting for.

He makes his move brazenly,
Striking in the night,
Horrified scream from the other,
Triumphantly he takes flight.

The game goes up a gear,
Both sides with much to lose,
Heavy demand for the queen,
Threats proving no use.

The man stares into the game,
With very little chance,
Strikes with iron hot,
Into the devil’s dance.

The other collapses on the edge,
The game now lost,
Caught in the night,
At dreadful cost.

They find the little girl,
The father struck down by tears,
The bleeding dead queen,
Stalks the killer for many years…