Hello, Jim,

Welcome to Writing.com!
Here is a review for your "The name of the game" .

Comments and Observations:

Love this! Short, abstract, with great imagery, and it reminded me of my childhood when I used to play chess with one of my uncles, way back when.

These images, "the knight’s texture," the rook’s heft," "the queen’s preciousness," are sensational and even sensual. You took an abstract game and raised it higher, if not for anyone else but me.

The repetition of “if…then…” is very effective. A mental loop, no less. It captures the logic or the obsessive thinking, involving the game's strategy.

The poem is also playful a lot, with an innuendo or two to suggest areas of life other than Chess. Then, you leave the poem open-ended with a question, “do i get to mat” as mat in Chess lingo means “mate.” It works well, signaling both the checkmate of chess and other possible double meanings.

At the end, I like the subject and your clever way of constructing this poem. Still, I thought maybe I could suggest a thing or two, which is totally up to you to accept or not.

Here is what I thought:
"if... then..." thoughts, so powerful as they are, maybe they could have more of an impact if you were to divide them into three lines, like this:
if…then…
if…then…
if…then…

Also, if you wish, you could consider to expand the chess elements as metaphors more, such as: the king's weakness, the opening gambit as in sacrificing a pawn or piece for advantage, and other inevitable moves, about which, I am sure, you are more knowledgeable than I am.

Qt the end, I think your poem is layered in calculation and desire very cleverly, while blending strategy and psychology. Plus, I loved it. In fact, I read it a few times, maybe for old times' sakes, too.

Suggestions on the text as to grammar, usage, and punctuation

I saw no problems in this area.

Best wishes with your work.



My review has been submitted for consideration in "Good Deeds Get CASH!" .