Gambling

Two gamblers
their eyes slits across cards
played close to the vest.

soft green velvet
muffles the clink of coins
with shaky hands
the gamblers ante up.

the swoosh of crisp paper
dealer takes two
and doles out none,

and now the war
it escalates
rivers of tension rise
far above the levy gates

flooding out reason
with emotion
blinding everyone
to bigger bets and
bleeding losses.

two pair of dark eyes
lay down all they have
a full house
the flush of hearts
despair