To My Son Joshua Aaron, A Chess Lesson

There are two sides,
yours and your opponent’s.
Play for fun,
white moves first.
Utilize your pawns
as your first line of attack and defense.
Do not underestimate their usefulness.
A rook walks straight and narrow
as far as he wishes
as long as he
is unimpeded.
The knight is an erratic jumper,
and catches his enemies off balance.
It is best to clog the middle of the board,
I have found.
Then flank the corners while your
opponent’s resources are diverted.
The bishop is a holy man
who moves crookedly
near the corners.
Beware the queen.
She is a deadly, contentious woman
who moves at will,
like a venomous spider,
and you, young king
can move
                                              just one space at a time.