My Wager with Death by Richard Reed Jr

When first he bid her come
Death waited with hat in upper hand
While I sought some clever way
To loose his grip upon her fate
Shifting the match point over to me

Nonchalantly leaning on a lamp post
He snuffed out a flickering flame
By which only she could see
And cutting one notch
In his walking cane
I saw more than a lamp
Dimmed---on that dismal day

When he stole away her sight
He stole away my soul
But this timeless charlatan still had
Some tricks up his sleeve
And an obvious Ace in the hole
I gamely wagered---card for card
With deceit he pretended the game was sport

When he raised the ante
Playing all his black chips
I knew then he dealt from the bottom
So when he called me I folded
Then like a claim jumper stole my stake
And tight leashed he led her away
To put her down
Which damned me to eternal Hell
Not fit punishment enough
For a pitiful neophyte gambler
Who chanced to put down his best friend's life
For hope and meagerly table stakes

Tipping his hat---shaking my hand
With victory dripping from frothy lips
He said 'Thanks sport!"
And holding me sway with an icy cold voice
He said "Only a fool plays against the house."

"At any rate your friend's soul was mine
From the moment you first took her home
I don't play dice---I play cards!"
Then notching again his cane
He spun on his heel
And while twirling
Jumped into his own gleaming eye

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My Wager with Death
by Richard Reed Jr
copyright 02-24-2006

Age Rating: 7 to 127

Prose-n-Poetry.com

My Wager with Death by Richard Reed Jr copyright 02-24-2006 Age Rating: 7 to 127

My Wager with Death
by Richard Reed Jr
copyright 02-24-2006

Age Rating: 7 to 127