Dogs had barked in my sleep and in the morning
Cards had fallen apart and on the pavement askew
Where the rain had soaked them for a couple of hours.
The ace of spades fluffed with water : its top “A”
Having lost the cramped horizon, turned the icon into a
Lambda, as if a Greek omen for the populace.
The other card was a jack of heart. I saw this one first
Given the crimson face and could guess the ground’s irregularities,
Water and gravity having forced in concert the paper
To closely fit its support. I was right after all to have called
God’s bluff. After our little game, he or she had thrown
In despite an empty hand to the ground.
Image credit : Василий Улитин. Пламя Парижа. 1932
Frédéric Benqué 