Gin with Mara
I was tired of running away
There was no where left to hide
So I sat down
To play gin rummy
With Mara
I had run so far
I didn’t have many cards left
Only 3
Mara said, “Keep them”
She pulled a deck from her sleeve
Shuffled
Let me cut
She took three cards
I played curiosity
She played grief
I knew Mara would let me run
But I would lose, again
I was plunged
Into the place I had avoided
A well
I thought I’d drown
As the waters closed over my head
This game is played over days
Months
Even years
I played strength
Mara played shame
I fought
I struggled
I writhed
I played tenacity
Mara smiled
She played fear
I was trapped
Overwhelmed
My heart trembled
My mind clamored
Tried to escape from my skull
I had no cards
“Draw,” said Mara
I drew
I looked at my card
I played despair
Dark, dark
I sat
I sat
I sat
Mara played want
Mara played vulnerability
Mara played
Dark, dark
Mara played joy
I stared
Mara said, “You lost the cards as you ran,
Remember?’
I touched her hand
She dissolved into me
The cards all falling about us
We picked them up
And went on