then... I pull that handle.

oh, the noises that it makes.

then...I hear the coins all fall,

it gives me wonderful shakes.

I started with just five dollars,

then...ten now twenty gone.

"thats okay" I say to myself,

"I came here for the fun."

then...after thirty minutes

I've lost five hundred more.

I reach deep into my pockets

and pull out another four...

...hundred that is...

...then...I get excited...

when five hundred quarters fall.

I hit the "trippple sevens",

now I'm Having me a ball.

then...I think of what I've done,

this is what I deplore.

I only played the minimum,

I should have put in MORE !

then...I take my winnings

I place it all on green

then...the woman spins the wheel.

she yells... "RED SIXTEEN"

then...In my complete frustration

I pull two hundred more

then I say a little prayer

and place it on red four.

"BLACK TWENTY THREE"

are the words-

spoken boldly from the floor.

then... I slowly walk away, (shit)

"I can't play this no more".

I've only been here a short time

I can not leave this place

It's an hour drive back to my home

that would be a big disgrace.

then...I pull my last five hundred

and go to play some craps.

for a while I am doing fine,

with all those other chaps.

77777777

I think of all the things I'll do

all the places I will go

my wife will be so happy

when I take her to the show.

then...Ill send her to the mall

to buy her a new dress.

she'll be so dawgone proud of me,

all night we will caress.

77777777

then...after nine long hours

My hands begin to shake

what will I tell my family

this sure was a big mistake.

7777777777

then... I pull that handle,

I pull it one more time.

I look down at the credits,

I havn't one more dime.

then...I raise in shambles,

my body is so numb.

"Oh My God" is what I think

"How could I be so dumb".

then... I slowly walk,

straight out through the style.

I don't even have the money,

for the tolls I will compile.

then...I lift my head and smile really fake.

as I walk right past those guards.

as if to my own wake.

then...As I exit the front doors

I look down apon the floor

with the whisper of a little prayer

that I could find some more.

then...I suddenly remembered

we have nothing to eat.

I was suppose to stop at the store

and buy some bread and meat...

then...I finally reach my car

My shirt I begin to rend.

what will I do when I get home,

© David W. Smith 2009
davidsmith03.comcast.net