Untitled - January 6, 2002

Poker faces
against the world
even as the hand dealt
holds so many kings and queens
that any princely change in sums
would have revealed
what Lady Luck so kindly gave.


Even as fingers clasp together,
no attention is drawn
to the subtle shift
of satisfaction settling with the eyes -
solid in the knowledge
of a winning hand.

In a silent nod to convention,
I'll carry the hand to the very end,
all eyes forward,
learning to keep my poker face on.