Untitled 4 (Jack O’Diamonds Is a Hard Card t Play)

jack o’diamonds

jack o’diamonds

one-eyed knave

on the move

hits the street

sneaks, leaps

between pillars of chips

springs on them like samson

thumps thumps

strikes

is on the prowl

you’ll only lose

shouldn’t stay

jack o’diamonds

is a hard card t play



jack o’diamonds

wrecked my hand

left me here t stand

little tin men play

their drums now

upside my head

in the midst of cheers

flowers

four queens

with pawed out hearts

make believe

they’re still good

but i should drop

fold

an dean martin should apologize

t the rolling stones

ho hum

weird tablestakes

young babies horseback ride

their fathers’ necks

two dudes in hopped-up ford

for the tenth time

have rolled through town

it’s your turn baby t

cut the deck

on you’re goin under

stayed too long

chinese gong

down the way

says jack o’diamonds

(a high card)

jack o’diamonds

(but ain’t high enough)



jack o’diamonds

is a hard card t play



jack o’diamonds used t laugh at me

now wants t collect from me

used t be ashamed of me

now wants t walk long side of me

jack o’diamonds

one-armed prince

wears but a single glove

as he shoves

never loves

the moon’s too bright

as he’s fixed mirrors

round the room at night

it’s hard t think

there’s probably somethin

in my drink

should pour it out

inside the sink

would throw it in his face

but it’d do no good

give no gain

just leave a stain

jack o’diamonds

an all his crap

needs some acid

in his lap

what hour now

it feels late somehow

my hounddog bays

need more ashtrays

i can’t even remember

the early days

please don’t stay

gather your bells an go

jack o’diamonds

(can open for riches)

jack o’diamonds

(but then it switches)

a colorful picture but

beats only the ten

jack o’diamonds

is a hard card t play



jack o’diamonds stays indoors

wants me t fight his wars

jack o’diamonds is a hard card t play

never certain. in the middle

commentin’ on the songs of birds

chucklin at screamin’ mothers

jack o’diamonds drains

fish brains

raffles what’s left over

across the table

t little boy card sharks

who just sat down

t get off their feet

back luck run’s all in fun

it’s your choice. your voice

you choose

you lose

run for cover

hallaluyah

you choose t lose

take yourself

disappear

jack o’diamonds

(a king’s death)

jack o’diamonds

(at the ace’s breath)

jack o’diamonds

is a hard card t play