The King of Diamonds

We turn the cards,

court cards, courting cards;

our mini-tarocchi

un pasatiempo,

whiling away our moments

in two-handed patience.

We dare not call it Solitaire.

The diamond King

is Caesar they say:

is his hair combed forward

like mine to disguise

the ravages of time?

For so long

I felt I was

the Jack of Hearts.

We move the cards,

played cards, playing cards;

our lovers' baccarat

- a bagatelle.

Just two tired gamblers

who dare not leave the casino.

NB: un pasatiempo is a pastime in Spanish.