The queen of chess

Irina Ushakova

Dedicated to my parents, Victoria and Leonid Ushakov


Rumor has it that She, Queen of Chess so majestic,
Isn’t bound by hues and by rules black and white;
Black – she glades on the white; now white –
waltzes over the black in her infinite gestures,
Thus infallibly proving: chess – a mirror of life.

Oh, believe it or not, but her fields bloom with lilies,
Scarlet roses and iris, and “forget-me-you-not’s”;
With the moon in full shine, people (humans) slumber so dreamily,
Stars descend from above and she whirls their sonata.

Why, she needs them like air: ribbons blue, bows yellow;
Oh, and of course: golden buttons and pink rosy lace,
Morning coffee with cream – royal cup – rich and mellow,
Spoons of honey at night, spoons of silvery glaze.

It is cheer and joy, which her soul desires:
Purplish violet butterflies, dresses – heavenly blue (dresses azure and blue);
Praise of glittering rainbows she accepts of (from) admirers,
Shunning wonderless days, days of hopeless gloom (humdrumy gloom).

But it’s rumor, all rumor! Don’t you credit this gossip so foul!
Word of mouth and people have such treacherous whims:
For to assay (know) the Queen, see Her Majesty’s magical colors –
Not enough for you just to be wistful, you must play her and win…




My gratitude to:

Vladimir Reznikov for the inspiration

Myam Shirabzhalsanova for her image and style advice