Sunday, August 9, 2020

The Biggest Bluff ~ Sunday, August 9, 2020

Patrick could not fold. He shrugged. His bad hand 
attracted undue attention. He thought 
that if he could bluff his way to a win... 
religion, prayer, and God...his life felt bland; 
inside a casino, he felt he lost 
control of abiding in faith. His lot... 
king high, no pair, nought to bet on but sin, 

could he win the pot with just a face card, 
only the devil knew what was at cost, 
unless his opponents saw through his bluff, 
leave alone the dealer, who watched each game, 
dealt each hand with her eyes towards the rough, 

nothing ventured, nothing granted, the flame 
of desire burns a fire, never a bard 
to sing without a lyre, to face hard luck, 

face the truth and not fold, not give in, cold 
orbits, steel blue eyes gaze and mesmerize, 
little did Patrick know his eyes could suck 
distracted thoughts in with a glance, to think. 

He could not imagine how others bold 
enough to stare back in terror would rise, 

shaken to see their life pass in a glance, 
how could he know his eyes made others blink, 
real horrorshow to sit across and see 
under his brows the flames of hell await, 
given Patrick was a novice, a bee 
going from one casino to his fate 
each time he left, win or lose, he felt chance 
dance upon the graves of his enemies. 

He held a bad hand, king high, but all hearts, 
in fact, he didn't know what a straight flush 
signified in poker, he sailed the seas 

bent out of shape by his past, could it last 
as he thought, he fought back tears, he felt darts 
deliver a blow like a fist, his brush 

handed death a steel-eyed glance, the distance 
attributed to his age, he was cast 
notably as an observer, as bees 
danced, he played his hand without assistance. 

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