CHECKMATE

i'd have bought you a chessboard
for christmas
yours was missing
some pieces

but you always wanted to play.

i'd have your last name
engraved in
the side of
the case and

played with you all christmas day

i'd have tried
my best
to master
chess

'cause it'd be nice to share your time

i'd have tried
my best
to master
chess

'cause it'd be nice to win sometimes

i'd have learned
how to move
based on what
you would do

and know to think ahead

i'd have learned
that the Queen
needs the most
protecting

and to kill off a king, instead

more pieces
would get lost
you'd be bored
and you'd toss

it away, that's how you repay me

i'd have bought you a chess board
for christmas
and told you
"this gift is

the best you'd ever gave me"