WHISKY AND LACE

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SPLATTERED PAINT OF TAINTED RED,
CROSSING THE LINES OF AGE THROUGHOUT THE FACE.
THESE ARE MARKINGS OF THE ONE WHO'S DEAD,
WHICH LED THE LIFE OF WHISKY AND LACE.
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THE CARDS LAID OUT IN A FAN LIKE VIEW,
LADEN WITH SPOTS OF TOBACCO CHEW,
UPON A TABLE OF BROKEN WOOD
WITH ONE LEG MISSING FROM WHERE IT STOOD.

FIVE CARDS WITH AN "A" FOUR IN ALL,
THE LAST ONE THE KING WHICH COMPLETED THE RING,
FROM THE MASTER OF THE GAME WHO MADE THE CALL
STANDING STRAIGHT STERN AND TALL.

UPON HIS STANCE, HE GAVE A GLANCE
TO THOSE AROUND THE TABLE,
"I WILL TAKE THE POT, THE WHOLE FUCKING LOT"
FOR THE OTHER HANDS WERE UNABLE.

UPON HIS REACH, A RIP DID BREACH,
ACROSS HIS TAILORED WEAR.
AS IF ON CUE, WORRY FELL VIEW,
AS THEY ALL GAVE A SURPRISING STARE.

AN "A" OR AN ACE BE IT AS YOU CALL,
FELL OUT WITHIN THEIR SIGHTS.
THE BIG MAN STOOD, BUT COULD ONLY STALL,
AS HE TRIED TO SHOOT OUT THE LIGHTS.

TRY AS HE MAY, HIS HITS WERE STRAY,
AS LEAD FILLED THE PLACE.
BUT ONLY ONE LAY DEAD
OF TAINTED RED,
THE ONE OF WHISKEY AND LACE.