A complacent start
Then momentary panic
But calm minds prevail
Victory tonight in the modern classic boardgame!
(07.08.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
gaming
Poem 880 – Cliffhanger
The surging storm descends
with fury, fast and vicious,
fingers feeling every
creaking crevice. Tugging
limbs and ladder on the craft,
it threatens to upturn it,
throw it to the ground.
Lasers fire their furious
lights and slice through lashing
sky and shields alike.
Silhouetted soldiers
dance to dodge its death
their warring weapons raging
in return. Now pinned
between these violent forces,
race our rebel rogues
to meet uncertain ends…
A cracking space-opera RPG session tonight left our heroes caught up in the middle of an unpredictable conflict.
(13.05.26)
Poem 832 – A Lesson in Self Control
To stick or not to stick that is the question.
The head says to but deep inside this urgent
urge declares it’s fine; just one more card,
that’s all, just one, what harm can one more do?
And so you nod. The dealer starts to turn
and as they do the world contracts and centres
on his hovering hand. Sound stops. He flips
and as he does your flitting heart does too.
Shock waves. The slow-mo thud resounds across
the table as the heavy card descends.
To stick or not to stick that is the question;
it seems I learnt too little much too late.
Fun social evening at church tonight playing, and losing, Flip7.
(26.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Photo by Sergi Viladesau on Unsplash
Poem 827 – Pandemic
Alas, tonight we failed
to save the world. We tried
but sometimes trying’s not
enough. Sometimes hope
requires a lucky hand.
An early epidemic meant we were up against it from the start.
(21.03.26)
© Ben Quant 2026
Poem 745 – Interrupted
Escape room antics
Stopped me writing mid-poem.
Escaped. Tomorrow?
Working on a photo inspired poem today, but a family escape room game to me away from it for now…
(29.12.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Poem 703 – Childish Things?
Eight men, eight grown-up men at that, all sat
Around a table playing games. It seems,
A little childish perhaps, a desperate clutching
Onto passing days, of memories
Of living wild and young and fearlessly.
But here we’re free to put aside, for now,
Responsibility and simply be
Ourselves. To set aside the expectations
Put upon us by ourselves and others.
Right now the world reduces to the choices
Made, the turns we take, and all that matters
Is the fun we find, investing in each other.
We end rejuvenated, ready as
the table and the world expand again.
Today I travelled back from a weekend playing boardgames with friends. A wonderful time, thanks all!
(17.11.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Poem 702 – Anticipating
We roll the dice
and all lean in,
our breath is held,
as pulses rise,
a gasp, a cry,
a ‘Yes!’ a ‘No!’
‘I hate this game!’
‘I told you so.’
The cards slide in
as turns are made,
collective groans,
delighted cheers,
as points are counted,
totals summed,
impatient waiting
to find who’s won.
A weekend away boardgaming, with the’evil’ 6 Nimmt card game being a highlight, with all its highs and delightful lows.
(16.11.25)
Poem 659 – Escape Room
Today we made it
Our jail we escaped it
Our puzzles’ completed
Mystery defeated
Where once confounded
Our lives now unbounded
We live now to take on
Another new day
I put together an escape room for our church harvest social tonight. They did really well and made it to the other side!
(04.10.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Mohamed Marey on Unsplash
Poem 658 – Games Night
Off to roll some dice
To lose at every boardgame
But have lots of fun!
Making space for fun
(03.10.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Madeline Liu on Unsplash
Poem 594 – Victory
Eight players striving
To beat the other seven;
Only one can win.
Through laughter, they discover,
All emerge victorious.
A riotous evening of 6 Nimmt.
(31.07.25)
© Ben Quant 2025
Ode for the Day 