on getting to the other side
I came to the negotiating table
with half a chip
& was forced to play my hand
I had nothing to offer
but much to my surprise
soon realized that was my strength
it’s funny how your friends
call you a fool & your enemies
look at you like you’re a tree
or a big rock
or a one-way ticket to ride
there is a boat on the other
side of the river
one that will take you to the nearest ship
and all it takes to reach it
is one more microchip
august two thousand twenty-one
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 
Nothing to lose, nothing to give, this definitely is strength though it may seem like the dumps!! Great poem.
Thank you very much, Mona.