Playing Bridge With Card Counters

digital art by Walter W. Smith

playing bridge with card counters

we burn bridges like cigarettes,
chain smoked, our butts accumulate in small monuments
to remind us if we ever dare try pass
this way again---

i had a reason
and it was important

once

but you
would not understand

so after bridges are ashes, we build walls,
watch everyone out the corners of our eyes
ever alert that they may get close
and trade in our hopes
for automatic weapons

go pacino, 'say hello to my little friend'
brat-a-tat-tat-a- tat-tat
(insert maniacal laugh)

cause we don't want to hurt,
alone is much safer and doesn't
---right?
being right is important
---right?

at barnes & noble, on the bargain table
they sell the illustrated history of torture
for $5.99---this is not the self help aisle
nor the gospel---cigarettes will kill you,
denial is a cliche river & bridges

are thousands of splinters pressed together,
laying in wait to crawl under your skin
if you let them---

life is risk & people get hurt

touch the tips of my fingers, smell the smoke
in my hair, kiss the cracks in my lips,
i know this,

now please
please,

blow out the match


Brian Miller

Posted over on his site Way Station One