Chess Players

There are those who like to play a good old game of chess
Where Knights and Bishops, Pawns and things
Are placed with much finesse.
They're quite content to play all day
And half the night as well
No time taken taken off for meals to have a little spell.
There are blisters on their elbows
(other places I am sure)
As they become engrossed in play
And other things ignore
Like wives who hover in the back
Tempers slightly boiling
As tender joints are overworked
And vegies go on spoiling
On and on they battle planning each and all the moves.
When one of them at last succeeds, the other dissaproves.
After hours of solid ply
And with a sickly grin, decide that they have had enough
And want to pack it in.
Together they have boxed the lot; and put it all away
They hold post-mortems on their games and how they ought to play.
Some of us that know the score, and it isn't on the board
Where little pieces battle on, and victories are scored.
For chess requires the patience of a calculating mind.
But I would so much rather be, the mind they left behind
For life itself has battles, and some of them are tough.
As I move to sort mine out, I find that that's enough.


This piece was written for Jimmy who sadly passed away soon after,
incidently he did get blisters on his elbows while playing chess at "Hillcroft".

          Gladys Hill

---

          Jimmy

I still see you there tall and lean with greying hairs
Always with that warmth and smile
To welcome us to stay awhile
I look back on years we've shared.
All the time that we have cared
For in our hearts, for you a place
That time itself will not erase.

1980	Turner
1983	K Farrell
2005	D Burrell
2006	W Hoseman
2008	R Smith
2010	L Cobban