The Desperado

The people who came to where I worked - the Casino -
Were interesting and came in all shapes and sizes.
Wherever in the morning they might go,
In the evening they culminated right there.

They asked for many kinds of things.
Glasses traveled from table to table.
Here the men who win become kings,
The story of each victory becomes a fable.

That's how a desperado's story became.
I've got a very special story to tell you all.
The story of the man whose life was a game,
The man who gambled and won it all.

That beautiful, balmy evening, on duty,
I saw him. His was the perfect poker face.
His smile was mild, his eyes were wary.
He was determinedly winning every race.

His skin was covered with beads of sweat
From all the action and careful winning.
He was narrowly escaping loss and debt.
Who said gambling was sinning?

As orange juice and stronger drinks circulated,
The man seemed to lose himself more and more
To the game. I watched him, fascinated,
As his game touched my very core.

He won that game, and the next too, of course.
And soon, he stretched and yawned, as if
All the gambling and winning for all the hours
Had tired him. From the beer next to him, he took a sip.

Just as he was playing, his eyes met mine.
It was, by then, the middle of the night.
He'd, after all, come here only to play and dine.
Still, I couldn't help, but notice his good looks or his height.

I went about my own business, all the while aware
Of his gaze on me, the smile on his lips.
He hadn't left yet. I wished I could just stand and stare
At his hands slowly playing with the colored chips.

The next time I noticed their game, I saw
He'd lost once or twice. I was surprised;
I heard the roars, the taunts, the guffaws
Of all the players, playing cards and rolling the dice.

Soon, he was caught up in a big mess
And I made worried rounds with my plate
Around his table, pretending business;
I was wondering at the abrupt change of fate.

He never gained more after he'd lost some.
I wondered what had distracted him from his game.
After he'd entered the Casino, had things begun to hum.
I didn't want him to lose; I didn't want him to be tame.

His eyes never left me, though.
And his smile never left him.
My eyes loved to watch him so,
Though I did act almost prim.

Finally, I couldn't bear him losing
Anymore. I kissed the rim of his refilled glass
And took it to him. He knew what I was doing;
And I knew - he was already in love with this lass.

Then how he tamed the game, and made it light
And easy, and how rich we became, are all history.
And I left the Casino, on that beautiful, balmy night,
To join my beloved desperado in blissful matrimony.

And we lived together happily ever after!