Well Played

The old woman, a pale red scarf tied around her head, deals
Many cards out slowly, face up, in front of me
Tells me my future is bright, full of love and money
But what do you expect other than good news, the only news that pays
She says nothing about any of the cards in particular
Points not to a single one, but nods over them and smiles at me
Asking for her $10 once she’s said what I must want have wanted her to say
I pull out a $10 bill and hand it over, shake my head
Taken in by this poor woman who knows no other way to survive
Than act as though her psychic powers can bode good tidings from any card
She says, “A little extra never hurts,” holding out her shaking, wrinkled hand
I give her another $5, stand and leave without another word
Knowing that if love and money lie ahead
They will have been waiting for me no matter what the cards said