The Gambler
By Lynxear
Chips stacked neatly in front, Thumbed with a vacant stare. Click...click......click...click... Pondering the odds , His eyes focused straight ahead. A thumb nail drawn lightly Across the green nap, Another card slides From the dealer’s hand... A backward wave of the hand Completes his turn The dealer reveals his cards and In a flourish removes the bet. The gambler replaces the wager, Into that taunting circle, Click...click......click... Cards are dealt anew, Met with those same empty eyes. What goes on in his mind? What thoughts are his alone? Is he married? Does he have children? Do they know of his disease? Do they care? The dealer motions to him. Doubling his bet, he calls for one card. Click...click... Damn! this luck must change, Can’t lose forever...can he? But she is gone from him, This whore, this Lady of Luck. Painting visions, promises, Flirting with another lonely heart. Oh...she has been generous With her time and caress While he had money to spend But she wanted it for herself. Now that he has none She has left in search of more. Click... He craves her touch Waits for her return, Longing for just one run of cards That will bring him that rush, That fortune that he deserves... New cards snap to the table. A sigh escapes his lips He places the last of his chips. Others are laughing, Joking or talking, but not him. For him there is no joy, No release for this private hell. The dealer turns a BlackJack, He pushes himself from the table. With a quick smile, he turns to leave, But that jealous harlot calls again In the chimes of a slot machine. With shriek of laughter as the “lucky one” Catches coins spilling everywhere. The bank machine sings its siren song From the island by the door, Just as the Loreli doomed sailors to the rocks If they listened to her melody, Chips stacked neatly in front, Thumbed with a vacant stare. Click...click......click...click... This time he knows that she will be his, She will not fail him now... (c) Jim Nov/2001 Written November 15th, 2001 © on Nov 14 2001 04:34 PM PST 0 • 1
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"Chips stacked neatly in front, ..."