For the d’Verse Quadrille Monday, Whimsygizmo invites us to write smallish poems of 44 words, including one word they provide. The one word to use is Fold. I wrote about the tactical folding at cards when you’re your hand of cards is bad, and your chips are at stake.
The Card Player
I should fold; My hand is bad It shakes in fear and dread and won’t hold still The cold sweat tear rolling down my forehead will give my hand away They can tell by my face I haven’t got an ace I should fold Lesley Scoble, October 2023
Footnote
Like a glimpse of the card player’s face? click here.
Boo!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Thank you, Whimzygizmo and d’Verse Poets for the inspiration.
A little bit about…
The Card Players by Paul Cezanne
Paul Cezanne was a Post Impressionist painter who painted five masterpieces of card players. His models were farmworker friends who posed for him.
The Card Players was a project that Cezanne undertook between the years 1890-92. The image I show is one of five Card Players paintings. This one is in the Courtauld Gallery, London. One of the other paintings sold for over an estimated $250 million. (Anyone want to buy my card player? Lol )
Lesley lives in the City of London Square Mile. An artist, actor and sculptor (her first ceramic sculpture won the V&A inspired by… Award). Scenic artist & book illustrator, playwright, (her musical play, Rapscallion performed in inner city schools and theatre school); TV dancer; Animator and illustrator for TV production. Set up Pinecone Studios Ltd and IIMSI Ltd drama and filmmaking workshops in London – producing award-winning films made by children.
LesleyScoble.com 
22 responses to “The Card Player: a quadrille”
He should probably fold for without a poker face, his chances are not good 😂
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😂 Trouble was he had a load of gold on the table
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Poor guy
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😂
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If he was bold and imposing, maybe I could have said that he was an “ace” by himself. But, him hiding his face doesn’t make me say even that. Nice one, thanks.
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I’ve added a pic that shows his eyes—discover it in the footnote. 👀😁
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This was funny..reminds me of a buddy at a night shift gig I worked, who would gamble on horse racing in Hong Kong. He blew $23k in one night. Was crapping bricks wondering what his wife would do, as he had been using her credit card. 😜
Good one Lesley. 💙👏
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OMG 😮 (I can guess what she would do).
Thanks, Nigel 😁🙏
Ace comment. ❤️
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Lol… She left him before he even got home. Had to spend the day at my place while she packed up. 🤣🤣
Happy to show your poetic talent some love. 👏👏
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Oh, that’s sad. Gambling can destroy lives. 💔
Appreciate your compliment very much, Nigel🙏 ❤️
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Hope your buddy is okay.
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Yeah.. he is. They even got married eventually. Once he quit gambling
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Phew. I love happy endings 😊
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😜😊
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How about some polka on the rocks before the bet?
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😂🤣😂 Definitely
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Your art is amazing, both the painting and the poem.
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Thank you very much, Nicole.
Your kind comment means a lot to me.
I tried a different style with the art—and the poem is different for me too. 🙏💓
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I love the direction this took, Lesley!
Wonderful artwork.
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Thank you so much, P. 🙏💓😊
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Loving the double meaning in “hand” here, as it’s shaking…I’m guessing he’s not much of a poker face, and should throw in the cards. 😉
Love the visual you’ve paired this with.
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Thank you, Whimsy. 🙏😊 💓
He’s useless at cards. 😂 Lost all his money.
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