Dealer’s Choice
you’re not sure why he does it
not sure about your part in
enabling the pain
he claims the game is rigged
wonders aloud if he should quit
because he never wins
but moments later
with the next deal
he tells you to forget
about everything he said
outside the casino
the sky is gray
rain falls from clouds
through rays
of artificial light
it's often too confusing
infuriating for you
to continue to invest
your life in this illusion
there's always an excuse
he complains the rules
change with each shuffle
to the dealer's advantage
shows you how
the decks are stacked
the cards are marked
can demonstrate how aces
are palmed under the table
confides in you about
confederates he imagines
looking over his shoulder
alerting the house
with signals flashed
from behind his back
about everything he's got
but he won't stop betting
he likes the draw's suspense
relishes the attention
the free food and alcohol
as a player at the table
brags to you what he'll become
with the win deep down
you know will never come
he begs you to hang on
for one more round
reminds you again
that he's no fool
knows how some
abuse the game
depart from the decorum
of gamblers over the ages
care only about adding to
their conquests and
their fortunes
stares back at you
with vacant eyes
and says he doesn't care
about the odds
you start to wonder
if maybe there are
more than a few cards
missing from his deck
perhaps from your deck too
you try again to warn him
even though you know
by then your lock
on his attention's gone
wonder if it's time
in fact for you to go
you want to say to him but don't
how games at these tables
are won with a confidence
he doesn't possess
with a full house
that can't be dealt
why in the end
you know with certainty now
he will never win
holding the hand he holds