Confidence Trick

The old codger hobbling upon his cane Rich in years, a quick impression, on the accessory The shell game played, by the young shill, Asking for the time, sticking to the plan Distracting the feeble old man, this the trick While the confident grifter swoops in, Barely noticed coming to steal, all that he has The black throne’s hurrah the stick is a blur The shill shuffles with gladness, thinking The old man had missed his mark The loaded stick hits the con-artist, where it hurts The rich man quickly switches hands, As the shill receives the wrong end of the stick Sending two on a humbling convalescent With a drop of the water of life from an olden tin The old codger walks confidently on Lilting upon his shillelagh