Alternate Perspective

This poem was originally typeset in uppercase.

THERE'S A TABLE
   SOMETIMES IT'S ROUND
   OTHER TIMES
IT IS SECTIONED
OFF
   SQUARE
BUT NEVER
SQUARE

I SIT
   AMONGST
THE PLAYERS
CURIOUS

   SOME PLAY
   TO WIN
SOME PLAY
FOR THE NIGHT

SHE PLAYS
   FOR THE NIGHT
SHE THINKS
   SHE PLAYS
   TO WIN

   THE CARDS
   ARE WORDS
TO AN UNAIDED
EYE
   A CRYPTOGRAM

SHE COYLY SMILES
   LOOK AT ME
DAMN

NO ONE
   WINS
PERHAPS
IF YOU COUNT
   THE FEELING OF
   TEMPORARY POWER

OF COURSE
   NO ONE
FEELS THE GUILT
AT THE TABLE
   IT IS CARRIED
   HOME
TO ME

I SHAKE MY HEAD
   IT'S
AS IF
   SHE PAYS ATTENTION
   AT THE TABLE
TO HER LOVED ONES'
WEAKNESSES
   AS IF THEY WERE PLAYERS
ONLY TO CHEAPEN THEIR STRENGTH

   RULES
SHOULD
BE CHALLENGED
   AT THE TABLE