Fireside Games

She played poker, kids under
the table. Wild as a joker,
he made violent bids
for her hand.

We watched their legs
through table legs,
dancing. She upped the ante
—deft as a fencer—

the tip of her poker
hot in his face.
He cashed his chips
against the fireplace wall.

Shaking, she gathered
us up—her trump cards—
& shuffled us carefully
back into the pack.