A Dead Hand Poem by Joe Rosochacki

A Dead Hand

Rating: 2.7


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)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Topic(s) of this poem: religion
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Ako philemon 29 November 2018

Nice write up

0 0 Reply
Jim Gordon 08 March 2017

Never knew you were a writer then. Nice work, full of something other than the usual bitterness, Best to you and to Judy, Joe.

0 0 Reply
Kim Barney 11 January 2016

Joe, I like this poem, but you should have mentioned in a poet's note that two verses came directly from the song 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers. The first verse: 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 dealin's done. and this one: 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.

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Ro'ya Abdulaal 20 April 2010

what a talent? what a style? I'm speechless, and you're calling me a great writer? ?

0 0 Reply
Kesav Easwaran 08 May 2009

Enjoyed a lot reading your write, Joe...playing poker with the Lord! Well, humour apart, your excellent write provides so much to ponder on...thanks...10

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Joe Rosochacki

Joe Rosochacki

Hamtramck, Michigan
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