The Poetry Corner

Ace Of Spades

By Paul Cameron Brown

Parable as metaphor - profile in hard glint of light, buckskin garb merging from shadow & buckboards - sandwiching of memory being elbowed thru a Deadwood City saloon door. Noneother. Dead Man's Hand. Cards strewn, last tumbler ... chamber on empty. Yancy Derringer modelling the latest revolver of his namesake, in pit & the palm bullet in the back for Wild Bill, just for a keepsake. Treasure-trove for the funeral parlour: "they done him up well". Peccadillo as provocation.