i am not a gambler

but I have been conditioned by years of sloppy play

now i accept the hand dealt with no qualms of winning or losing

been clubbed, used spades to bury the past, saw diamonds don’t always mean forever

but never found the queen of hearts

drowned in the river

felt the flush of royal eyes

lived in a full house that felt empty

bet it all on a losing hand

my bluff was seen through

defeat snatched from hands of victory

i always seem to fold under scrutiny

one final hand, the dealer pulls back his hood

down to my last two golden coins

five random cards

still no pair