what every woman should carry

A women should carry in her 
pocket cards and keys
for home, hotels,
freedom, 
money.
Skills on paper resumes,
a lucky coin, poker chips,
phone numbers for
jobs that pay.

She should rest her hand 
on her heart beating for her
life beating her
keep a diamond to
remind her 
a queen needs
no king, no
ace, no 
jack or joker, no.

She needs a club and
her car,
a spade on her 
key ring,
a watchful eye,
senses unseen.
A sharp smile to prove
she knows 
the tricks, her enemies 
held close like dealt hands 
and a poker face for losing 
hands, winning hands.

She needs to 
remember women before 
who took seats at 
tables, rolled dice,
placed bets, learned while 
they lost until they 
won just enough
to keep playing.

When she wins a hand
she should lend
a hand, carry women stripped 
from losses and
left 
jobless,
friendless,
faithless,
homeless,
widowed, and
beaten, and
broke.

The games were 
always meant to benefit
the house.

-MNF

(Originally written Feb. 6, 2023)