Shuffle the Devil

Outside the red mortar and brick,

a neon sign glows with green blinks-

three quick, three long, three quick,

signals that my future is on the brink.


At a table, I sit down with pleasure.

In silence, Madam begins the ruse.

I smile. Tell me my fortune, teller.

I have nothing left to lose.


She shuffles the cards

and the Devil appears.

She goes another round,

and then he disappears.


Random cards are placed,

as the table has them neatly arranged,

in a sequence that only she can trace.

Surprised, she gives me a noteworthy exchange.


Shuffle the Devil inside;

don’t let him out-

Shuffle the Devil blind;

he symbolizes my doubt.


With a twitch, I listen,

her interpretation has me pegged.

The clarifying cards are missing

the one that would define her spread.


Shuffle the Devil again,

you know, he wants to play.

Shuffle until he surfaces-

he wants to be on display.


Then it happened, the Devil crosses me.

The seer explains what the sign meant.

I react to the news with: how lovely.

The Devil seems to be heaven sent.


Shuffle the Devil inside out

She knows what she sees.

Shuffle him hard and about…

because she knows the Devil is me.


By DL Mullan

From: United States

Website: http://www.undawnted.com

Twitter: unDawn_ted

Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/dawnlesliemullan