drawing for chance
2009/05/01 in poems
drawing for chance
by tanner brockwell
drawing for chance
and certain circumstance
certain luck was here to stay
certain that luck would never stray
but the silver glint in the traders eye
was the sign of certain spells
had gone awry so very awry
sulphuric conjuration caught
in lathe spun cylinders
he smiled the gold was offset
in each molar and the front teeth
had some dowries bequeathed
he was steady the ghost of why
a glance that certain portent flew
the round dealt the cards complete
ah this was foul luck this was insanity
last weeks pay tomorrows too
next was the horse and then with adieu
he rose to tip his broad darkly hat
and scooched the chair back
no not luck not faintly chance
this was deft darkness and rueful dance
his cards spread out
revealed the pips and suit
matching mine own hand as dealt before
dirty bastard devils boy
i’ll have my money i’ll have my ride
and you’ll cool your heels till noon on sat
in the sherifs cell for certain
his eyes like coal his breath was paused
his fingers traced a compass upon the grain
and croaking out his single tone wighty said no
youngin your game was played before you sat with me
this is how the die is thrown and if you think i’m old
you never counted ages like pages in a tome
we’ll say that your game was lost and no way won
and i’m long from dinner and far from home
that this strange form in quivering shook and collapsing forward
his coat and hat and frame were gone
in a rank billow of a dark smoke
my winnings on the table lay the cards were gone
i stood alone
the crowded saloon an empty gaze
bars mirror a glance of shrouded haze
webs o’er cobbed ancient spiders
and this town for ghosts
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