POKER WITH THE DEVIL- A POEM BY DAVID RITTER

Poker with the Devil is a darkly humorous and cautionary tale of temptation and redemption. This narrative poem follows a troubled man who finds himself in a high-stakes gamble with the devil himself, ultimately making a choice that determines his fate.

Poker with the Devil

Once upon an Autumn moon,
in a land that love forgot,
a wayward Joe roamed from his home,
and started to drink a lot.

He left behind a nagging wife
in a house back in the woods.
And though he tried to please his bride,
Joe knew he never could.

Nobody knew the pain he felt,
or why he ran away,
but feeling unloved was like a shove,
and he found no need to stay.

He staggered down a broken road,
to a place where dreams die.
He was never mad but sometimes sad,
and no one wondered why.

And like the brisk October wind,
where fragile leaves fall,
Joe held doubt and was down and out,
with little hope at all.

He made his way to Whispers Lounge,
to find refuge from the cold.
In the corner sat Satan waitin’,
at a table full of gold.

The devil held a deck of cards
and shuffled like a pro.
He saw the lad alone and sad
and whispered, “come here, Joe.”

Joe turned his head, and the devil said
as he snickered with glee,
“Why not pull out that chair right there,
and play one hand with me?”

There was no way that Joe could play,
for he had nothing to bet.
A drunken life and leaving his wife
put poor ol’ Joe in debt.

Knowing Joe’s broke, the devil spoke,
“There’s one way you can play,
and if you win by going all-in,
I’ll save your marriage today.

And I’ll give you all my gold right here,
and any desires you choose,
but I get your soul, and you can’t go,
if by chance you should lose!”

All life’s pleasures with vast treasures,
if only Joe could win.
The temptation is strong, greed is wrong,
but Joe said, “deal me in!”

The devil dealt from the bottom,
and did his best to deceive.
He talked sweet, like a lying cheat
with an ace up his sleeve.

With fortune and fame calling his name,
Joe’s face began to blush.
When he looked hard at his cards,
and saw a Royal Flush!

With no way to lose, Joe sipped some booze,
and pondered the winning pot.
Desires await, and the gold is great
but a nagging wife was not…

Oh, somewhere in a bar somewhere,
cheerful chaps hang out.
Poker is played, drinks are made,
tall tales are talked about.

And somewhere, men are cheering,
the peace that covered the land,
when a clever Joe told the devil no
and folded his winning hand!

David Ritter

My book, “Memories for Keeps,” is available for download or print on Amazon. For additional poetry collections and products, you can contact me directly at rittersrhymeandreason@gmail.com or visit the stores listed below. Memorial picture frames and books can also be found at my Etsy Store!!! CLICK HERE

1. Faith Christian Stores
   • Address: 4463 Miller Rd, Flint, MI 48507
   • Phone: (810) 516-0706
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   • Address: 646 S Main St, Frankenmuth, MI 48734
   • Phone: (989) 262-8010
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MEMORIES FOR KEEPS

A collection of poetry that reveals one man’s feelings about the world around him. With spirituality the centerpiece of most of his writings, the author touches the hearts and minds of readers with hope, peace, love, humility, wisdom, and wit. While tackling topics ranging from grief to fatherhood, from addictions to friendships, this writer captures the essence of a born-again, alcoholic dad who is grateful to have finally found serenity in life. Today, through this collection of both old and new works, he shares that serenity with you!

BOTTLED MEMORIES

These stand-alone poems were written over many years. While individually they describe the conflicts associated with alcoholism, when read together they reveal a more complete picture of the destruction, depression, and chaos of addiction, as well as the peace, hope, and joy of recovery. Although most of these poems pertain to my life, it is my hope that other people will relate to them also. It’s not only my story but the story of so many others.