deal.

the dumbest game of cards
there is, The hearts
for love, and constancy,
the spades for death, and
fate: dig deep
the clubs for strength, for valor

keep your diamonds. Filthy lucre
fails to dazzle me, however well
it catches light, in facets cut
with cunning craft
to no avail.

we cut the deck and dealt our cards
our hearts betrayed, turned fragile, broke
from nerveless hands our clubs fell hard

we called all spades as spades - misspoke

the diamonds only
kept their shine

as hard as anything you please
and no one bluffed, no tricks
were played. We lost.

With honor, grace,
and ease.