[NYCSPITZ]

It probably only took him a second - maybe less
before he surveyed his qualms with life and lay them to rest
stress at play; there's no room to be divisive or bitch
a most critical game was playing and his life was at risk
knife in his fist...he's handling it with laudable aplomb
as time froze, nearly whispering inaudible songs...
The tall man before him didn't seem to dawdle or plod -
awesome and strong, he stood tall with an unstoppable calm
"My name is Death, friend...I've searched within you for the knowledge of man"
- and staring into his unflappable gaze, the knife dropped from his hand
"I've watched you live since birth, only wishing you wisdom and gratitude
only to see you throw it away to greed and a cynical attitude
armed-robbery, lust...gambling and all manner of sin
so play me poker for your life - it's your hand to begin"
mist enveloped the wooden drawbridge he was walking across
looking down he finds a table with matching chairs of burgundy cloth
skull and bones appear on the velvet surface as he waits to be dealt -
and two cards materialize right in front of him on the table of felt
He peeks - king/queen offsuit! His pulse quickens...but something starts to bother the calm
when the face cards' pictures melt and turn to pictures of his father and mom
Death looks at his hand, grins slightly and chortles a bit
his cloak invoking the void, a billowing and dark sartorial pick
three translucent cards rise to play, gaining form as fate settles them flat
flipping over sequentially to three hearts: a king, ten and a jack
he looks Death in the eye - could the sunnovabitch have a straight or a flush?
or pocket aces...etiher way he could be majorly fucked
his father barks from below: "fold you no good lazy failure of flesh!"
mother in an undertone: "you derelict...he'll see through your bluffs and lay you to rest."
"To hell with both of you" he announced, slamming his fist unusually hard
when his son Jackson called out (his first words) from the community cards
"papa...WAAAAHHH...I'm hungry papa..."
He stood up quick as a flash, and told Death off something proper
striding through mist he cursed Death for delaying him with very little pretend
...but kept running into him and his table again and again
he sat back down, resigned after venting venom and steam galore
his father barks: "Ha! I knew you'd come and fuck this up even more!"
he calls Death's raise, then another king appears on the turn
Trip Kings? Shit...if he didn't go all-in it'd be clearly absurd
Death checks. Looking slightly nervous he fidgets and blinks
"fuck you death - I'm going all-in on this bitch!"
The skies quiver and fog lifts, revealing nature's penchant for art
Death takes off his - hoody? It's actually his friend Steve on a bench in the park
"You sobering up bro? We've been awake for forty hours - it's about to be noon
that was a great combo though - taking ayauasca and shrooms
you thought I was death! hahaaa...well guess the damage is through
oh yea...we spent your son's formula money on camels and booze"
He threw up, dizzy as hell acclimating to the city park and the sound of sirens
relieved. vowing to live his life better in the awkward silence