nonpoker face are my two middle names
feelings are in my cheek, twist my mouth
you do not have to know me
to know me
I cannot bluff
because my face is a give away
you can look into my eyes and know me
I have no fences or filters
the silver birch
it likes to hide
so as you search
at eventide
you find it there with many friends
playing poker through the night
the common oak
a wise old man
an aging folk
since time began
grandfathers of the forest they
speak myth and folklore when they can
the sycamore
with helicopter seeds
sets out its store
among the weeds
then grows to be big and strong
from people’s picnics on which it feeds
the horse chestnut
is the conker tree
the children’s favourite
but too spikey
until they are ready later on
and why kids were late home for tea
the yew
is old
and grew
so slow
its age is in millennia
and battles from the archer’s bow
the hawthorn
its blossom white
and at dawn
as if it snowed all night
then all too soon the white has gone
a desperate case of bad stage fright
the conifer
fir, spruce and pine
a regular
likes mead and wine
to keep it warm in winter then
comes into homes at Christmas time
Some people can play poker
Not me
My thoughts and feelings sit at the edge of my face
Jumping on the necks and backs of people
If you disgust me, my disgust might take a bite out of you
If I listed all the things that irritate and disgust me
You would feel put upon and irritated
No one wants to hear this
Instead I bring my rant back to my unhidden feelings
When I am sad they yell, stomp, scream, and screech.
All without benefit of voice
But you see my face and you know
See now why I cannot play poker?
When I have a winning hand my crescent smile lights up Manhattan.
And I live in Kansas.
My thoughts and feelings cannot be secured, lassoed or hidden.
They blaze forward like a super hero on speed.
In spite of my best efforts to act aloof or indifferent.
I cannot play poker
Unless I want to lose all my money
My wedding ring, my house, my car and my husband
My thoughts are all over my face
There is nothing hidden from anyone
The most nonobservant person can read me
I have more tells than a tattletale
while the room spins around
dreams and wishes swoosh
in tandem in a mega swirl
one look and delirious delight
releases chaotic madness
a sea of sensations in motion
a swarm of tangents and explosives
perhaps concealed under bated breath
but the eyes never lie ~
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
I had heard of a poker face, haven’t you?
But this was the first time, the first time true
That I heard of a joker face in blue
It happened when I visited my cousin Sue
She took out the face and said, ‘what do I do?”
This joker face has gotten me in trouble, Lou.
I had no words. The face laughed at her too.
We decided to drown it in the loo.
"A straight! Two-three, five-six and eight,"
but Mildred bleated, "Ain't no straight;
you, Alice-ewe, are one dumb rump."
Bright chortles burbled round the stump
till Jingles raised, "Two straws of hay,"
too rich for Fay-Fay: "I can't play,
though, know that ram hauled in by truck?
I thought he gave me … lotsa luck!"
Suzette guffawed, "Not luck you meant."
"Perv, pigsty's where your mind has went!"
"Well, we all know why he's brung here …"
"Too bad it's only once a year."
"Who poofed?" sneered Molly, "That's so crass!
Wow, someone dined on rancid grass …"
Embarrassed Mildred urged, "Just play,
let's brighten up this gloomy day."
Belle brooded, "Yeah, dawn brings the shears …"
"Well you look cute, nude tail to ears."
"And your sagged udder shows you're old!"
Tense silence fell--that barb was bold--
but Alice, heedless, claimed, "Two pair!"
which drew the wrath of Mildred's stare:
"Two fives, a two with ten on top?
You're one stupid mutton chop …"
There once was a young lady
I tell you she was somewhat shady
She played some strip poker
With brother's friends mediocre
In walked her mother quite shaky
All cards are on the table
Esau holds kings and queens
His secular greatness is swift
Many chiefs reign in Edom
Jacob draws but two's and three's
His family lags behind in Egypt
Becoming slaves to Pharaoh
Is God playing the losing hand?
Small beginnings deceive
Spirtual greatness comes later
Demanding patience and faith
Until His Royal Flush appears
Jesus holds the Key of David
He is worthy to take the scroll
And to open its seals
Eclipsing secular greatness
His blood purchased for God
From every tribe and nation
A kingdom of priests to serve
And to reign on the earth
His last hand is winner-take-all
So, ask yourself this,
"Do I really want to play poker
with Almighty God?"
I had heard of a poker face, haven’t you?
But this was the first time, the first time true
That I heard of a joker face in blue
It happened when I visited my cousin Sue
She took out the face and said, ‘what do I do?”
This joker face has gotten me in trouble, Lou.
I had no words. The face laughed at her too.
We decided to drown it in the loo.
Feel the rush,
Chased the ghost,
These are the things
We miss the most.
All of the laughs and all the cries,
These are the words behind the lies.
Never again and never enough,
Know when to hold and when to bluff.
Defeated myself,
Forgot the past.
These are the times,
That never last.
Deception and truth,
Smoke and the mirrors,
Groans and the moans,
Laughs and the cheers.
From dusk till dawn,
From built to broken,
Our secrets are safe,
Trust never broken.
One more hand,
And one more round.
To hell with sleep,
We will rest in the ground!
The queen of hearts
always deluded him,
never let him win.
He had sparkling time
with the ace of diamond,
getting it he’d bet the highest,
and win,
at least in poker.
___________
May 25, 2023
Contest : A Diamond Of Time
Sponsored by : Julia Ward
Why do politicians so often look like cats trying to cover up s..t on a marble floor?
John G. Lawless
©11/3/2022
I am afraid of clowns someone said.
No one laughed.
It was a serious poker game.
Chuckie glared in my direction.
I had not noticed Freddie or Jason yet.
Concentrating so hard on my cards.
When I looked up I tried to bow out.
But I was held in place.
An invisible force controlled me.
A dementor was here!
I was his puppet.
I wished I knew where my invisibility cloak was.
Dracula and the werewolf began salivating.
I knew I was in big trouble now.
They say I have covid,
Well, isn't that special.
So, they gave me Paxlovid,
And an oxygen checker.
Yet, I'm told it's better,
Than the pox or a poker!
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