Rules of the House

For those who like cards, or odds, or life....

Rules of the House

 

Troubled waters

Seep from my eyes

Into the house of cards

In which I reside

I literally played

The hand I was dealt

One-eyed Jacks watch me sleep

Two-eyed Jacks stand sentry

Guarding in teams against Kings

Who want to conquer all

Before they suicide

And though I plead and bow down to the Queen

She has picked her partner

And turns her back on all things small

For ten years I had a good run

I played it straight

But alas, I was flushed out

My kingdom betrayed me

My castle collapsed

I was left with the cards everyone had discarded

And disregarded

The urge to fold was overwhelming

But I mustered just enough courage to ante up

 I was all in

With shaky hands

I transformed worthless cards

Into precariously balanced walls

I played beneath my hat and behind my glasses

Close to the vest

Careful to conceal my tells

High stakes

Every gambler made side-bets

Counting me out

Because the odds were a long shot

Not in my favor

The flop turns on the river

My fate has been dealt

Things are looking grim

The King unconsciously grins

Still I will not cheat

There is no need

I am a woman and I am a mother

Pocket aces

And I take it all

It is only a fraction of what I lost

But it is enough to play another round

Finally the deal is mine

And I don’t have to front the blind

It is the dealer’s call

So I collect the cards

Carefully crafting them into a makeshift home

Troubled waters seep from my eyes

In recognition of the precious bets I lost

Before I even knew any games were being played

I am a much stronger and more worthy opponent

Then they ever would have wagered

The odds will always be in my favor

Because I know how to play the cards no one wants

And because I know better than to rely on luck

And because I know that sometimes

2’s and 4’s have to be enough

And because I know how to walk away

Even when I’m down

I literally play the hand I was dealt

Now I’m no expert

But I think they call that a bluff!