Castles and bloodlines,
one-eyed jacks and
who was burdened
with which roman numeral
is better left
to the historians.
I don’t know the history
behind the kings and queens,
nor do I care.
Valuables are being thrown into a pile on the table.
There’s a conventional wisdom
when playing cards
that says,
“If you look around the table
and can’t see the sucker,
then it must be you”.
I’m looking around
the table and I know
it ain’t me.
I’m keeping
a couple of things
up my sleeve,
even though my wrists
have chafed and
are beginning to scar.