Tom Beatty

I was a lawyer like Harmon Whitney         Or Kinsey Keene or Garrison Standard,         For I tried the rights of property,         Although by lamp-light, for thirty years,         In that poker room in the opera house.         And I say to you that Life's a gambler         Head and shoulders above us all.         No mayor alive can close the house.         And if you lose, you can squeal as you will;         You'll not get back your money.         He makes the percentage hard to conquer;         He stacks the cards to catch your weakness         And not to meet your strength.         And he gives you seventy years to play:         For if you cannot win in seventy         You cannot win at all.         So, if you lose, get out of the room -         Get out of the room when your time is up.         It's mean to sit and fumble the cards         And curse your losses, leaden-eyed,         Whining to try and try.