Clay Money
68
The format on this is a little off, but actually might enhance the meaning and fun of the poem. I hope you'll enjoy it and, as always, I'm open to critiques.
I understand that gambling is an addictive vice for nay people, and this poems seeks in no way to minimize that. Rather, it is simply a view into human beings using poker chips and the personas of men and women gathered around a poker table. I'm am also planning to revise this poem in the next few weeks, so please check back often.
Enjoy!
Clay Money
Smooth clay money denominated
by color. On their face,
painted brightly the words LAST FRONTIER,
lying in furious short stacks of ten,
maliciously marching across
green felt,
three deep and ten wide. The remainder rummage
between my fingers with a dull
ringing
as I watch the faces, numbers, shapes , colors letters fall,
across the felt
seeing how they match up with the ones
in my hand, bringing with them the rising
and fallings
of the stacks.
I’m cautious to release them.
To my right, frightening stacks of twenty,
ten deep
but only five wide, powerful
in a more obvious way. Their owner is careful, but somewhat
more careless then I. He does not finger
his remainder, but merely lets it lay there,
lonely and unstacked. He broods
and stacks
and destacks, seemingly
without worry or care.
When he runs out,
he pulls out green wads of paper
and creates more stacks
of twenty.
To my left, uneven stacks that rise
and fall with haste, without nourishment
and with much frequency, seemingly with no regard
to the faces, numbers, shapes, colors and letters in his own hands,
not to mention the ones we all share
on the felt.
He shuffles his clay money between his fingers,
but doesn’t grow attached as they are tossed
amongst the others
far more frequently than mine—far more frequently
than everyone’s—and are rarely returned
or multiplied. Before long, the holder
and his haphazard clay money vanish
and order is returned.
I smile at the smoothness between my fingers.
all rights reserved. copyright Justin W. Price
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CommentsLoading...
wow I felt like I was playing cards. awesome poem
Debbie
Thanks so much, Till. I'm actually in the process of going through some revisions on this one, so, come back soon. it may look different! always nice to see you...
Cyndi, I'm glad this has unlocked something for you. I admire poetry and love to share that adoration with others.
I felt like I was at the poker table watching you and the players around you. I wanted to pick up a poker chip and feel its smoothness between my fingers as I watched to see who would end with the most chips. Different format but definitely interesting. Voted up and interesting. Thanks for SHARING.
An illustration of how so many of our actions reveal interesting qualities about our personalities. I'm digging your poems: I used to be intimidated, but you've unlocked a key somehow and I feel like I'm understanding your poetry. Nice! :)
Thanks, free. I just submitted this to a work shop, so I may come back and revise it. Be sure to check back! Thanks for commenting!
Takes me back to younger days when I traveled more and if a casino was nearby - I was drawn to it like a manget. The ebb and flo of the chips is an emotionally charged internal dance all hid well by a poker face. Well done.
Thanks Peggy, I'm glad you enjoyed this and understood the spirit :-)
Your title caught my eye. This really defines gambling and the value of those chips and those who hold them or discard them freely, beautifully. You really captured the spirit of this with few but finely chosen words. Well done and different. Up, interesting and awesome votes!
Thanks, Nity. I'm please that you enjoyed this!
very beautiful poem PDXKaraokeGuy.Every word of it has is telling it own meaning.I am looking for your other poems like this.Voting it up.
Thanks, Raci. I'm glad you enjoyed this!
i used to play poker too when i was not yet busy with HP...nice hand there Justin...
Alastar, not really much into poker machines, but I always seem to do well in vegas on the Price is Right slot :-) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Justin this puts one right there my man, can feel the clay money still. Seriously good piece you wrote. You ought to try the poker machines at Harrah's on the Cherokee reservation over here, maybe you'd have some luck; not too many others do lol.
Susan, I used to play on Poker Stars, but, I cashed out and now I can't re deposit because Americans are no longer allowed to play online poker for money
The Russian mob, really .... wow that would be scary. Have you tried Poker Stars? Online and you play for money.
Thanks, Kelly. I'm so pleased that you enjoy this!
This one is super close to my heart! I love it!
wd... nah, but it's a nice thought, ain't it?
pmc, thanks and you're welcome. Thanks for the votes!
Audrey, it is. Thanks!
Thanks drTruthman. I appreciate the votes
Thanks Deborah. I'm glad you enjoyed this!
Thanks Mona. I'm glad you enjoyed. I appreciate your comment!
Vinaya, I appreciate that. That;'s a great compliment coming from such a skilled writer.
Thank you so much Ivona!
Thanks for your praise and comment, Aurelio
Susan, it's not poker if there's no money involved :-) I play at this little club by my house that's owned by the Russian Mob. It's scary and awesome
Michele, actually, people who don't play tend to win, since they don't know when to let go of a hand and rely on luck :0)
Thanks Gypsy for your analysis and comment
Thanks Pickles. It's just something I observe when I'm playing.
Alright! PDXKaraokeGuy is buying!
Well done. Thank you for sharing, voted up, marked interesting
Poker is fun! And this is a fun write Justin!
Enjoyed very much. Voted Up most across. good job.
Very good. Quite unique in format but I loved the title, topic and even enjoyed the flow.
I voted Up, funny, awesome and interesting. Good job.
Unique topic for a poem and evocative style. You played the intensity well and do give the essence of the game. Wow! I agree Vinaya about the metaphor too.!
Hello Justin, your poetic pattern is very interesting. I always love your stylized writing. Clay money is a wonderful metaphor. Your choice of expression is superb.
Hypnotic play
I'm impressed by the format experiment -- especially the ability to control space. But I didn't know what clay money was either. Voting this Up and Interesting.
PDX, I love poker although I don't usually play for real money anymore. Sometimes on Poker Stars but I do play on Facebook.
This hub was very . I had to read all of it to understand it. I have never played poker, but it sounds interesting. But, since I have never played it I am sure I would lose....lol
Thanks for the hub!
Awesome. The lure of the numbers and the fun when those stacks rise and the sadness when they vanish unnoticed.
Enjoyed reading this poem.your unique point of view of poker was entertaining!vote up
Thanks my friend. I used to play Daily, now, maybe once or twice a month. I'm glad you enjoyed this!
Awesome, I reminds me of how much I miss playing pokers. Wonderful description of the experience.
PDXKaraokeGuy Hub Author 4 weeks ago
Thanks deborah... I may be revising this one soon...are you following my blog? I'm not putting many poems on my hub anymore