Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE FACE, by ARTHUR JAMES MARSHALL SMITH


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE FACE, by                 Poet Analysis    
First Line: The man with the acid face
Last Line: Who wills to act.
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, A. J. M.
Subject(s): Card Games; Faces; Playing Cards


The man with the acid face
Under the hammer of glass
Imperils the pure place.
The emotion of the mass,
Inverted, seems to ask
The jack queen king and ace
To do the task.

Wait for a sure thing—
Card into sleeve blown,
Arm out of sling,
Friends posted at phone;
Then when trumps are declared
And partner's strength known
Overpower the guard.

But keep the face mum
Till the right minute come.
Look left and look right:
Whose hand will you bite
With the safest delight?
Whose safe will you crack
With a pat on the back?

Replace the slave state face
With a face of bread:
Each shall choose his place,
Be Dead, or Red.
The cards are no way stacked
And he may live by grace
Who wills to act.





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