boardgames

Poem 447 – Childish Things?

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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 446 – Anticipating

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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)

© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

Poem 659 – Riding in the Dark

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A nighttime ride, 1.30, and it’s dark,
the perfect time to perch upon the saddle
and race against the waking of the lark.
No doubt there’s many who would think I’m mad,
but, peddling at this solitary hour, I find
the space to think and ponder makes me glad.
All other voices banished from my mind,
a purity of focus can be found,
as thoughts and legs in perfect rhythm combine.

Last night I joined friends in Enfield for an evening of boardgames. As usual we finished in the wee hours. Having been a hot day, I treated myself to cycling there and back. Decided today to try a poem in a terza Rima form, three three line stanzas with an ABA BCB CDC rhyming format, and my ride came to mind.
(16.08.25)

© Ben Quant 2025
Photo by Samantha Gilmore on Unsplash

Poem 637 – Pandemic

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Mutation strikes
As genes combine
The virus is subverted
Now virulent
The strain now spreads
The world is now alerted
Working as one
Combining minds
Our efforts are concerted
Against all odds
The world is saved
Impending doom diverted

Pandemic has been a favourite boardgame for some time now, although we haven’t played for a while. Took it out for a spin tonight, and for a while it looked like we had no chance, but somehow we managed to hang on to win!
(25.07.25)

© Ben Quant 2025

Poem 253 – Too Many Games?

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I’ve games all about collecting birds
and games about surviving in caves
I’ve games that are about belonging to the herd
and games about driving trains

I’ve games that are set in outer-space
and games in a sprawling city,
games about the future of our race,
and games about its history

I’ve games that feature mechanical robots
games about King Arthur
games about goats that are racing to the top
and games that are full of laughter

I’ve games about architects, assassins, kings,
and even bishops too,
and Romans, Scots, Merlin fighting
and Picts all daubed in blue

Boardgames, boardgames everywhere
and not one have I won.
What else can I do for my breakthrough
but buy another one!

I have invested in many boardgames over the years and keep getting beaten. This doesn’t seem to quell my obsession though.
(06.08.24)

© Ben Quant 2024

Poem 66 – The Cardboard Prometheus

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The lid slides off with satisfying heft,
Revealed within an array of precious parts.
Opened, the board becomes the table’s heart,
The pulsing centre round which we congregate.
The rules its brain which regulates carefully,
Instructing every thoughtful turn we take.
The tokens, hormones, eliciting response,
Conducting celebration, dealing pain.
But on their own these parts remain mere props,
Empty, devoid of life, like clay awaiting,
Prometheus to spark them into life.
So what impulse provokes initiation?
It’s those who in anticipation play,
Whose mutual endeavour generates.

I’ve tried solo boardgames and computer games, but nothing beats playing with others. For me, at least, it is the social aspect that brings them to life and makes them a life giving activity.
(03.01.22)

© Ben Quant 2022