The Gambler
I’m like an actor
between gigs I need to work a little
call it a side hustle
an evil necessity
Depending how bad the losses
from the night before
the side hustle might take
days longer than preferred
as we know man cannot live
on losses alone
Sometimes
you’ll find me back in the game
when I’m not supposed to be
that’s not really me
that’s only desperation at its finest
in dire need to breathe in
a little second-hand smoke
I have no need for fancy digs
just a little row house
along the river
three rooms in total
and a bicycle in the garage
bus pass hanging from a chain
around my collar
Once I’m dead or dead broke
someone will be rifling
through my trophies
shuffling through my photographs
like some deck of cards
looking for one that looks like lady luck
But you won’t find me
in any of those pictures
not as long as I got a passport
and a buy-in at the Bellagio
or better yet San Remo
december two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 
Reminds me of a quirky, very short (15 minutes), very low-budget film called “Bukowski’s Last Bet”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uZK1uZ4yK4&ab_channel=DRMUX
I’ve not seen this before, thanks for sharing.
Love the slots and 3-card poker but limited income and all wins are taxed by state income tax and social security increases despite losses so don’t play much any more. You’ve dwelt in the mind of the small time gambler very well.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. It’s been quite a while since I set foot in a casino.
Excellent. The ending makes me think of The Talented Mr. Ripley.
An interesting comparison, thank you!