Flushes, faces, four-five double
Three comes out, now you’re in trouble
Dealer flips a six and four
She pulls a queen, your heart sinks to the floor
Okay, not bad, we’ll go again
Another hand; another spin
Sixteen for me…another queen
I’ll have to work—this dealer’s mean!
“Hit it please, I’ll take a five.”
A two—at least I’m still alive
Dealer shows a five, then eight
Should’ve bet more; now it’s too late
Let’s split this one; we’ll play two hands
Might win big, I think I can
Twenty, eighteen, not too bad
A push, a win; I can’t be mad
My money’s growing; I’m on a roll
I’m in the black, out of the hole
But I’ll spend and spend
And in the end; I’ll leave with nothing, once again
This story I know all too well
And for that I’m sure to go to Hell
But until then—’til I’m old and I’m frail
You’ll find me here, in a Gambler’s Tale.
A Poet’s Qualm 