Gambling Man

Now I have the luck of the Irish,
No man has twice bested me.
I was born on the Emerald Isle —
My poison, The Best Out of Three.

Forever I’ve lived as a gambler,
How the cards lie, I know with a glance.
I skip town ahead of bad losers,
I live a life, addicted to chance.

Now I’ve seen the most desperate antes,
Watched blood stain the cards from a knife,
One drink-sodden fool bet his daughter—
The most rewarding win of my life.

A most beautiful prize now was mine,
I pondered the road of my life.
Hoping to start my life’s journey anew,
I bid her — pray come be my wife?

We travelled the highway together,
Lived high on the wings of my luck,
Till besting a brooding dark stranger —
It seems my world came unstuck.

My wife felt the lure of his shadows,
A heartbeat that broods in the dark;
Longing for dangerous adventure,
Her throat bore his passions mark.

She’s not quite been wholly consumed,
Nor yet at one with his breath,
I balanced her life on my gift—
And sought my dark wager with death.

The stranger accepted with glee,
A hunger burned deep in his eyes.
I felt fears’ icicle of doubt —
For I’d bet with the master of lies.

We played in a darkened Saloon,
Soft glowing from candlelight.
He played with the skill of long ages—
I realised I was in for a fight.

First poker, blackjack then gin rummy —
We tore through all games of chance.
He led, I followed, barely ahead —
A merry jig? No — deadly dance.

Then out of my luck, and near noon,
A drunk stumbled, disturbing our game,
He fell and clutched at the drapes,
The room filled with daylight’s bright lame.

Now the stranger, he burst into fire,
And ash he became in the light,
I hadn’t just bested a master of lies —
I had vanquished the lord of the night.

I’d reclaimed my wife, my love —
Between life and death no longer stuck.
You’d think we both learned a lesson?
But I’m Irish; I’ll leave it to luck!