a flush of tactility

 

a flush of tactility

 

 

 

 

full house

empty heart

the cards of credibility

fall into bankruptcy

there is heaven in the matter

above,

and reckoning

for penance served

 

the earth is a platter

the main entree pain

we play after dinner

until our midnight

 

a striking resemblance

of life to a bad draw

a fold

 

a scuffle, a reshuffle

a new deal same as the old deal

 

i gamble with estrangement

and it wins

and i sit in a darkened house

no longer full

 

but playing solitaire

with my memories

always with the Queen of Spades

crushing my rose-colored glasses

 

so i deal again

because time has only one joker

and it is on me.

 

 

erin-cilberto

4/30/22

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

I have never lived alone. I''m not sure I would find it easy to adjust. Some have no choice. That Queen of Spades a painful reminder of past failed relationships. I smiled at the rose coloured specs. Maybe an optimistic outlook here? Or one that is now content. Never say never says I.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you so much for your words, Chris,
j.

[John the Baptist]

This one sounds like the alma mater of the school of hard knocks: "The earth is a platter/the main entree pain." The card imagery speaks of playing the game repeatedly, with each hand the same. The dealer ends up playing solitaire, but still dealing, even in a darkened house. The pun in the last stanza indicates the game will not last forever.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate your wise words, John,
j.