House of Cards In the Wind

By Madison Simone

Two cards red faced down

A King and Queen of Hearts

Four hands tediously trembling 

Stacking the pack of red beating suits 

Stable with strategic balance

– I smelt the breeze bellowing 

Beneath your beaten breath 

But if we built this house sturdy

Maybe the wind would redirect

I leaned hearts against your spades

Barricaded pain that pushed back

Until your hand stopped at your chest

And couldn’t lift past your head 

You swore at the empty-handed curse 

Storms surged through your lips 

My face papercut from cards 

Caved royal flush, Collapsed

You slapped your guilty hands 

I flipped over the two cards

Both bent jokers black

By Madison Simone