View from the Devil's Lair

by Anthony M   Jun 23, 2010


Where do all of these people
come from?
It's late Tuesday night,
I'm down three hundred
at the blackjack tables,
this place is swarming
with dreamers and winners,
but mostly losers.

Are they escaping the reality
of what's waiting at home?
They sit like dutiful drones
offering plastic chips
for a glimpse at the jacketed man's cards.
I light a cigarette
much to the annoyance
of the stoic asian lady
next to me.

She's not unattractive
in the physical sense,
petite frame and straight
long black hair matches her dress
but
her eyes are impenetrable,
a small stack of chips
rattle back and forth
in her long fingered hands.

The card gods are not friendly
tonight,
lady in black lays down
seventeen twenty dollar bills,
dealer gives her some brightly
colored pieces of plastic.
I silently laugh
at the irony of it all.
She moves over to avoid the smoke.

Another hundred escapes my custody
just paper with portraits
prostituting themselves.
By now I'm quite sure that
my unwilling partner
has long ago sold her soul,
but who am I to judge
for there is a vague memory
of being at the same signing party.

    report violation
2


Did You Like This Poem?

Latest Comments

  • 13 years ago

    by Courageous Dreamer

    Another awesome write, wow I am in awe of what you have written. I have to agree with the comment above me that line was very original , I remember stopping and reading it over again. A real life scene definitely..you really make us feel the true atmosphere and what gambling is truly like. It couldn't have felt more real. It's quite sad to see how addicted people become to it. Very nicely done.

  • 13 years ago

    by Daisy if you do

    Very Unique write. You have pulled the reader in an made them experience the surroundings. I could feel myself at the table and in your position. Awesome job.
    I especially liked the insertion of this line

    "just paper with portraits
    prostituting themselves"

    Awesome!

  • 13 years ago

    by Anthony M

    I think I'd have to agree with you about the 'and', I hadn't really noticed that it's placement is really unnecessary.

    The 'but' serves as a jolt from being distracted by her positive attributes and realizing the reality of her coldness. Or at least that was the intent and how I felt at the time I observed this scene.

    Thanks for the input though, I'm off to pull that naughty 'and' out of there :)

  • 13 years ago

    by Italian Stallion

    Interesting write, I liked it. Not to sure about having "and" and "but" on separate lines, in my opinion it doesn't add anything to the poem by doing that.

    - Joe

  • 13 years ago

    by Sylvia

    The images in this are very vivid and I have seen them many times sitting beside my own husband. Gambling can steal your soul and every other possession you have. Well done.

Read All Comments (5)

More Poems By Anthony M