Wednesday night and it's 10:15
The Mets won and Alcaraz is beating Faria
I had just lost a game of Pinochle
But I lost to myself- Mama Mia!
One more glass of black, perhaps
Will do me a good nights rest
But first I need to beat myself
To prove- that I am the best
Win or lose- I don't care
As long as I play it right
Just one more glass of black for me
And then, to all, I say... Good night
Sweet dreams... sleep tight
And do hope tomorrow... you see the light!
My aunt told me a story
Which I’d never heard before
About her grandpa, which took place
Around the Second War. *
Some men were playing pinochle,
A card game, in the park,
With money on the table
When, before the sky turned dark
Some cops appeared, arresting them,
Her grandpa in the mix.
He had to go to court, a tale
That surely does transfix.
The judge, however, gave a speech
Admonishing the police.
Arresting 4 old Jewish men?
He ordered their release.
This story, passed down through the years,
Brings laughter even now.
My great-grandpa arrested?
All I’m thinking’s - holy cow!
*World War II
The Trivial Pursuits of my fun youth
involved challenge more than I’m so Sorry
or look for a Clue while driving freeway.
We’d fend off Trouble without undue Risk
during long winters playing Canasta
or racking Cranium. Wins came brisk.
Soon a rough Scrabble for food not garbage
meant skills learned with Pinochle or Cribbage
promised a better return on survival.
Attitude, no Big or Little Casino,
before a blocking Operation
meant a Monopoly on Life without
degradation like missing Whist or kisses.
Engraved forever in my mind
The smell of sugar pie in the oven
And my grand-mother's loving hands
Their gentleness their softness
Ever busy and endlessly creating
Only on rare occasions would they stop
To play this crazy game called Pinochle
That she had taught only me
I still see my grand-mother's hands holding cards
And how she loved this silly game with its silly rules
We had to marry kings and queens
How gleefully she’d laugh when she did
How I loved to listen her childlike joy
It never ceased to amaze me
This pinochle with its silly rules
How my grand-mother loved every minute of it
Especially how she would play with only me and then
How delicious that slice of sugar pie straight out of the oven
A most precious playdate with her grand-daughter of ten
AP: Honorable Mention 2020
Submitted on April 30, 2018 for JAMIE'S INTERESTING CONTEST 3 sponsored by JAMIE PAN - RANKED 5TH
Do not be concerned if you don't understand this because you have not played double deck pinochle before. The politicians who are running have the same problem. If you care, you can learn more about the game and the politicians so at least you can play without looking ignorant.
Double Deck Pinochle
By Franklin Price
7/31/2015
Double deck pinocle
So many cards dealt
My mind in a quandary
I think it will melt
More cards in our hands
Too many to hold
Maybe more coming
If was poker I'd fold
Must follow suit
When the cards are first played
The highest one wins
When the last one is laid
When out of a suit
Avoid a kick in the rump
Start taking tricks
By playing a trump
This is my view
Of the political scene
To me a big joke
Don't like to be mean
Don't think they are serious
Just playing a game
No clue how to play
But that's why they came
There is an old fellow I know,
Who just turned 96 years old.
His health is not bad in the usual sense,
But with his everyday memories he does fence.
Oh, he can remember specific things,
But day to day, he has questionings.
It is difficult for those around him you see,
To put into perspective this reality.
They love him as a father, brother, and friend,
But against his barrage of questions is hard to defend.
He doesn't know how it hurts them so,
To see him wandering to and fro.
Yet, there is One who watches all,
And one day He will come to call.
For another chair will open for Jim,
There's a seat there reserved just for him.
And another card player will join the crowd,
That plays card games all day and laughs aloud.
I can only hope that for me will be there,
Some day, an open place with another chair.
Because the Lord deals all the cards,
For us on earth, that is what's hard.
We know not when He will our pinochle deal,
But when He calls the trump, our life has been sealed.
As things go here, we can only play our best,
And when our time comes, trust Him to do the rest.
I love the rain,
On some deep unconscious plain.
It seems to seep in and soothe
The pain of an overtired brain.
That never rests,
Because of the stress,
Brought about by bad choices.
And sometimes the voices
That never seem to leave me alone,
Behind the eyes they plot
And manage to accomplish
What they desire to dethrone.
The King of Hearts is now a Jack,
Using Diamonds to fill the void left by his Queen.
Using a Spade shovel, she buries their past,
And some of her skeletons too.
I mean, she wants to start fresh, and squeaky clean.
I love the rain. It brings forth new life,
An attitude changed; serenity, acceptance, courage to maintain.
To learn, to grow, to believe.
The hope of a new relationship,
And a budding love with my seed.
I need him, he needs me and we need him on high.
I must not waste anymore, the time's getting slim.
I love the rain.
Because it opens my mind,
My thoughts are simple, and the truth I seek, I find.
When there's a storm,
There's calm before and after,
But the journey through
I s, to me, what really matters.
I love the rain.
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