Casino
They’re coming in,
the guide tells us
You can tell by
their happy, smiling faces
They still have all
their money!
We stop and watch the
Filled with Chinese men
The punters and the gamblers
Heading for the casinos
Brought here free of charge
To come and lose their cash
And later in the day
We wander cautiously inside
Out of prurient curiosity
Across the sticky carpets
And through the gaming rooms
To see them huddled round
The dealers and the croupiers
At the carefully spot-lit tables
Not smiling now, but grim-faced
Eyes glazed in concentration
Wagering on the roll of the dice
The turn of a single card
Or the number on the spinning wheel
In games of blackjack, poker and roulette
And though they know the odds
Are stacked against them
They see the pile of chips before them
Their stakes slowly shrinking
Yet still they chase their daily dream
Of that one big win
Trying out their latest System
To beat The House
And save them from their losses
And in the casino’s entrance hall
We stare in wonder at the floor
Where bars of solid gold
Are set into blocks below our feet
As a reminder of the riches
That are beyond the grasp
Of these addicted losers
And then we see them on the bus again
Being taken back to where they came
See them leaving,
says the guide
Not so happy now! He laughs
Their money’s gone,
gambled away
With all their
hopes, poor suckers!
Their faces hard and set
As they return to find more money
So they may come here once again
Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2013
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