Joe Rosochacki - A Dead Hand

You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin at the table.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealins' done.

David Reese too young to fold,
David Reese a popular jack of all trades when it came to poker,
The bluffing,
the betting,
the skill that he played poker,
- was his ace of his sleeve.
He played poker without deuces wild,
not needing Jokers.
To bad his lungs were not flushed out for him to breathe,
Was is the casino smoke?
Or was it his lifestyle in general?
But whatever the circumstance was,
he cashed out to soon,
he had gone to see his maker,
He was relatively young far from being too old.

Now evr'y gambler knows that the secret to survivin'
Is knowin' what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
'cause evr'y hands a winner and evr'y hands a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.

David "Chip" Reese has been quoted as replying,
"I'll stop playing at my funeral,
and only God knows what I'll do after that."

And he did just that.

David be careful playing poker with the Lord,
Because he knows what you deal with,
- knows what your deal is,
He knows your hand before you have one,
And he has time bluff you,
all eternity,
and raise you,
Till you have stood up and say you're done.

(12-6-2007)

Joe Rosochacki

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-dead-hand/