Chemin De Fer

Had I been         a gambling man,         eschewing the "shoe"         of chemin de fer ...         perpetually perched upon that throne          ... effete kingdom of the dice.         II         I am that gambling man ...         taking free access to many         a natural habitat, lure         of the open road,         contents under a bottle cap,         the riverine delicacies         of female flesh. Svelte, like         the croupier's green vision of cloth,         tingley-trigger smooth yet addictive         to the touch.         III         Or the pleasures of Ovaltine         (not necessarily the brand name)          ... by the handful or cup ...         upon a summer's day,         the mind blur of expensive art.         IV         Blackjack. Three card stud.         The poker-faced look of         many opponents peeling cards         from the bottom of the deck,         some ear-marked for success         with time-honoured stratagems         (& doctored hands) that leave me         reeling (or is it nursing) patent-made regrets.         V         Something primeval about wanting         to trade up your fortune at the         expense of the House. Ambuscades.         Indecision.         VI         Games of chance         the apt metaphor         of our daily roulettes.