Gabriella Alziari

Poker

Why am I

sharp and shallow

 

On the one hand,

a tiger

 

On the other,

just

a whisper

 

I lie beneath the stars,

expansive in surrender

 

The wild girl with fangs,

the dancer

on the wind

 

Which one will persevere

when two opposing voices

sit within my being,

like players at the table

with poker chips

to spare