For T.S. who, alas, has gone to Germany
Face it! Humanity’s a deck of cards,
And Life determined by the game it deals.
Consider: Solitaire, War, Hold’em, Hearts,
Blackjack, Gin—all reflect disordered wheels
Of fortune. The rank and colors, jokers,
Rules, define our daily dispositions—
Those broken by this harsh world, the brokers’
Dollars that determine our conditions.
It’s clear and urgent that we find new games
To animate the shuffle we endure,
Which brings to mind our Tanja (who inflames
Our wits). She’s blonde, and not at all demure.
Her presence at the paddle tennis courts
Creates fresh rules: Empathy, Warmth, Aura—
New games for us. She touches, smiles, cavorts—
We wonder, watch, and, of course, adore her.
(11/29/12)