The Gambler Poem by Barry Trembetzky

Mom turned off the lights
She whispered to us to keep quiet
while someone pounded on the door
Dad was late paying the rent again

The parading of horses and smell of dung
The look of desperation as patrons' toss
their losing tickets to the ground
This was my second home

Dad played the big game at the Stardust
Pockets so full of cash his pants fell down
Now a whale, we were treated like royalty
Comped to the best, until he lost it all

Dad joined Gamblers Anonymous
He went legit by playing the stock market
In the bull market, he became a millionaire
In the bear market, he lost it all

Dad paraded his son to his friends
He brought me to a card room where
he sat down to play. He kept taking
his money out, until he lost it all

Mom turned off the lights
She whispered to us to keep quiet
while someone pounded on the door
Dad was late paying the rent again