GAMBLE

why? there is no answer, just the
question. why were opportunities
squandered? a gambler would have
cut the deck, tossed the dice, walked
away with his winnings or nursing
some hard luck story

every loss, as near as damn it, a gain.
just the wind blowing the wrong
way that day. down is just looking
up at brighter weather or some passing
floozy willing to show too much leg,
happy with what's on offer

without a placed bet, I was getting
nothing, got nothing, just the pipe
dream of my full house to your flush.
your forfeiture, my prize, your back
receding before me, the rounds of your
rump, what I could have won