Tight-Lipped And Poker-Faced ... For TOWNES VAN ZANDT

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The sun splattered
across the table

 

It was 98.6 degrees
with no shade
from the trees

 

Their leaves had fallen

so had their interest

 

Birds flew by

without notice

 

The sky was elsewhere

 

But the sun splattered

98.6 degrees 

 and I was packing heat:
 

The same temperature
inside my skin
as outside

 

We played

with a living

breathing deck

 

And tequila shots

Tight-lipped
and poker-faced,

I held three talking cards
 

Two said YES
one said NO
 

I flipped the NO
and it said maybe

I flipped the maybe
and it said YES
 

It was a winning hand
every bet was mine
 

The pot sparkled
with sunshine
 

Life was good

maybe

***

 

PAUL OLIVERIO

©©©

 

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