Parody Poems
The Moment
By Margaret Atwood
The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage you stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country, knowing at last how you got there, and say, I own this,
is the same moment when the trees unloose their soft arms from around you, the birds take back their language, the cliffs fissure and collapse, the air moves back from you like a wave and you can't breathe.
No, they whisper. You own nothing.
You were a visitor, time after time climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.
We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round.
Source: Selected Poems: 1976 - 1986
A Moment in Chess
The moment when, after many hours of planned strategies and crafted tactics, your Queen stands in the centre of the square, board, battlefield, palace, kingdom, life knowing at last how you got there, and say, I’ve got this,
is the same moment when the frontline pawns twist their heads and march in the opposite direction, the knights drop their silver swords, the castle walls fissure and collapse, the king lies motionless like a mummy, and it can’t breathe.
No, they whisper. You won nothing.
You were a defender, time after time maneuvering your troops, planting the traps, proclaiming.
We never were in your control.
You never found us.
It was always the other way around.
“A Moment in Chess” Poet’s Rationale
“A Moment in Chess” is a parody of Margaret Atwood’s “The Moment”, which depicts a tragic moment when a seemingly winning chess position suddenly turns out to be the opposite. In this poem, chess acts as an extended metaphor for life. Chess is but a game of life, filled with “planned strategies”, “crafted tactics”, wins and losses. While maintaining Atwood’s structure, through the usage of diction, style, and various literary devices, this poem purveys a strong message – any form of success in life cannot be taken
By Margaret Atwood
The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage you stand in the centre of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country, knowing at last how you got there, and say, I own this,
is the same moment when the trees unloose their soft arms from around you, the birds take back their language, the cliffs fissure and collapse, the air moves back from you like a wave and you can't breathe.
No, they whisper. You own nothing.
You were a visitor, time after time climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.
We never belonged to you.
You never found us.
It was always the other way round.
Source: Selected Poems: 1976 - 1986
A Moment in Chess
The moment when, after many hours of planned strategies and crafted tactics, your Queen stands in the centre of the square, board, battlefield, palace, kingdom, life knowing at last how you got there, and say, I’ve got this,
is the same moment when the frontline pawns twist their heads and march in the opposite direction, the knights drop their silver swords, the castle walls fissure and collapse, the king lies motionless like a mummy, and it can’t breathe.
No, they whisper. You won nothing.
You were a defender, time after time maneuvering your troops, planting the traps, proclaiming.
We never were in your control.
You never found us.
It was always the other way around.
“A Moment in Chess” Poet’s Rationale
“A Moment in Chess” is a parody of Margaret Atwood’s “The Moment”, which depicts a tragic moment when a seemingly winning chess position suddenly turns out to be the opposite. In this poem, chess acts as an extended metaphor for life. Chess is but a game of life, filled with “planned strategies”, “crafted tactics”, wins and losses. While maintaining Atwood’s structure, through the usage of diction, style, and various literary devices, this poem purveys a strong message – any form of success in life cannot be taken