Four of a Kind

“No one knows why he advances as well as he does or could expect that laughable croak to work in so many circumstances.”
—from a short poem by Kay Ryan, US poet laureate, 2008 – 2010

By the time you read this, I will be in a snow-covered Buddhist monastery in the mountains of South Korea or somewhere in the northern Mojave Desert between a rock and a hard place. For medical reasons I will spend some time under doctor’s care. I will miss the sea of blue, the sea of stars, and all of you, my heart is true, feeling a little blue. I’ll be back either in a box of ashes or with lucky gambling cashes. I’ll send poems from time to time as long as I can remember how to use a computer and rhyme. Love to you all, long life and laughter! Isn’t that what we all are after? Peace.

These four poems are dedicated to Tommy “Numbers” Henderson, a Nevada casino dealer on the Colorado River for 13 years. Tommy has the wit of Will Rogers and the humor and wisdom of Mark Twain. He’s great storyteller and I’m proud to say he is a lifelong friend from Elmira, NY. He went back home a few years ago and may have finally found his own El Dorado gold mine.

Pit Boss Colossus
Who is on next shift
and tomorrow night
hope its that 
funny old timer
he supposedly knows
a thing or three
about hold em
and pai gow poker
he knows how
to get rid of 
loud losers and whiners
gets em up and away
to free buffet diners
wish he was on now.

Hold ’Em or Fold ’Em
No Dice Advice
On the river
Colorado casino
dealer delivers
jackpot not
at the table 
pots getting bigger
newcomer wins
go figure
in the pot 
salary for a week
feeling hot
no need to speak
no sweat
raise the bet.

Big Whale Fail Going to the Rail
You hoped to
catch a royal card
stayed in too long
in big pot games
a river Ace
a poker face
things went wrong
you had a few
hands and brew
and figured out
the new tells
right away
possible flush
let’s play.

Kings Pair and Ladies Dare
Your Kings
promising things
one has a heart
probable start
his Queens
looking good
a royal flush
dream understood
then the draw
last hand
losing all night
on the river 
got it made 
King a spade.

Joey ‘Pepe Batbon’ Connolly (Special to the Saipan Tribune)
Joey “Pepe Batbon” Connolly is a retired teacher and has been named a poet laureate of Tinian. He has taught English in CNMI public schools for the past 30 years. He has also taught in Alaska, New Orleans, and Las Vegas.