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The Mechanical Turk

from Seven Puzzles by Lyrian

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lyrics

The Mechanical Turk

1. The creator speaks

‘Behold the wondrous Turk
He plays chess – behold his fingers jerk
By clockwork

‘Come one, come all mankind
Pit your wits against his metal mind
And you will find

‘Although he’s no soul and no senses
Although he sheds no tears
His clicking cogs and turning gears
Will vanquish all human defenses’

2. The first great game

Forward stepped the Duke of Pelador
Proud, plumed, a master of the game
His was the first move – pawn to queen’s rook four
Quickly the Turk replied

Men gasped to see that miracle
‘Gardez!’ they heard the Duke exclaim
On the game ran, ingenious, lyrical
Castles were cast aside

Then to that noble Duke’s dismay
Down fell his bishops, knights and queen
Soon there were only four white men in play
Cursing the Duke was seen to resign

3. The secret of the Turk

What drives this sly machine
Is not clockwork, though its cogs are seen.
The king and queen

Follow a hidden guide –
Julia works the Turk with childish pride
Concealed inside

The years pass and Julia grows wiser
She wins most games she plays
And soon the Turk endures the praise
Of beggars and merchants and Kaiser

4. The Turk on his travels

Drawn into auditoria
Matched with the finest amateurs
Crowds watched his triumphs with euphoria
Mourning each rare defeat

Famed, loved, the Turk would seldom yield
Kings bowed, he trounced philosophers
Conquered Napoleon on a chequered field
Charmed all the world’s élite

The years turned and Julia, growing old
Moved still the Turk’s right hand and eye
And from the metal voice-box she controlled
Came her victorious cry of ‘Échec!’

5. The cleansing fire

At length a priest condemned the Turk
He cried ‘I see the Devil’s work!
A clockwork toy in Turkish dress
Can’t play the game of chess’

There must behind those painted eyes
Be something evil, something wise
A demon set at the controls
To trick our honest souls’

And so the clergy met and dined
Anathemas were sealed and signed
They damned the Turk with righteous ire
It must be cleansed by fire

A pyre laid by the churchmen’s writ
Received the Turk, the Šames were lit
While Julia watched, then slipped away
The Turk was heard to say
‘Échec! Échec! Échec! . . .’

credits

from Seven Puzzles, released September 1, 2023
Nash/Blake

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Lyrian Moreton In Marsh, UK

John Blake: guitars, singing
Alison Felstead: bass, singing
Paul W. Nash: keyboards, guitars, woodwinds, singing
Edgar Wilde: drums, percussion

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