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Deuces
| Open Poetry #43 |
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Deuces |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738
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I saw his veins through his thin skin even in the rose-damplight. His shoulders drooped in "don't belong" as he sat ignoring me concentrating on his gin. He wasn't drinking very much -- he stabbed the lime with that twig straw and he tamped his cigarettes one by one before he'd draw the breath of camels and he'd pause to curl the paper in the tips before he took a tiny sip of gin, before clicked his bic exhaling smoke like poetry-- the man had methodology. The barmaid kept his ashtray clean, and added ice to his dry drinks, not talking very much. I was playing poker then at the machine down at the end of the bar not very far from the guy and silences were interrupted by the thrills of "I almost had it there!" and the sounds of "try again," groaning, humorous. I kept hitting "Bet it All" and kept losing on the draw always close to winning I smacked the side of that machine, and started to "check out" the green while I had some waiting there. "Wait." he said. I watched him leave his seat in motion, gingerly and one black eye was glistening in those colors "even score" - puce and pink and yellow too-- a mighty fist-print of a bruise. He stamped out his cigarette and motioned to the bartender "two more over here" and I did not feel the compliment. Then he sat too close to me. But he was anxious for the screen. "Here, bet two, and let it go. Bet one, and let it think yer broke." A pair of twos popped up. "That's alright," he said to me. "Bet three, bet three- Just place the bid!" So I did, amused by this. "Now just you watch..." We watched the spin. We watched the aces grinning grins teasing us like aces do as they passed me by again and left me with two twos. "Thanks," I said, sarcastically. "It happens to the best," he said. He tamped another cigarette, and asked, "Did you not look at me?" I looked at him like he was nuts. (And perhaps, perhaps, he was) and said, "Oh yeah, I saw you there" He asked me if I was aware that he was a loser too-- he smiled and then he showed me where his tooth was grinning yesterday... I looked at him and then I sighed and put a twenty in the slide of the machine programmed to win and bought myself a beer and gin, for the guy I can't forget. I asked him how to play the "jack" with nines in pairs and clubs of friends all of them in royalty, he told me to go straight, "all in." I sighed the odds and told him then "Straight--it never was my friend." Reluctant I pressed buttons, with my lead fingers (which he kissed) we watched the dials of spinningness as two more nines became my friends I could bet again, and win! But my buddy was chagrined. "I needed that straight" he told me. "Like a sign from God, decreed." I told him that we won, for now-- "Now don't matter, anyhow. but thank you, for the gin." |
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| © Copyright 2008 serenity blaze - All Rights Reserved | |||
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amusemi Senior Member
since 2001-12-08
Posts 1262A State of Disarray |
This was SO vivid. I never had a knack for the machine poker games when I lived in Montana...but I loved Keno. I'm a cheapskate and would stop at $5. I do remember, though, nights like you described, watching people and the things they do. I was always the weirdo...not drinking, I was crazy without it...and I never quite belonged. But I digress...this is really, really wonderful and "real"! |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Good grief, there are people there like no other I tell you. You make New Orleans just so darn easy to love K, so easy. It takes quite a "knack" to get me to stop long enough to be in the moment of a poem, but I was there lady, I was there. Happy Winter Solstice to you too, besides my tree message below. |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
You are a female Nelson Algren, a compliment I don't give lightly. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
amusemi? Oh please...ramble on. I think the best poetry is in the ramblin's. Like making a white gravy with bacon lard, perhaps, but mmmm...dayum! Shar? You're just the cutest elf. I love you most sincerely.  and oh Mike..I had to look up "Nelson Algren"---I did! *laughing* I wasn't sure if he was a poker player, a golfer, or a writer...but it occurs to me y'can be all three.  Love you all...and um, I did hit a Royal Flush once. They had to call me the next day to tell me I did, but I did it, dammit. Lovin' hugs to all. |
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LngJhnAg Member Elite
since 1999-07-23
Posts 3508Boot+Kitty=Poetry in motion |
That's really nice, Serenity. Very captivating. Thanks for the write. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
*blush* Nelson Algren wow and yea LJ, good to see you luv. *sheesh* |
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