The Flutter of Shuffled Cards

I miss the flutter of shuffled cards

falling from my thumbs’ release, alternating,

the flap and slap of cards laid out,

pulled slick from a well-worn deck,

years of gin rummy, hearts, and spades,

winning and losing, my losses tallied and totaled

amid the shouts of victory and laughter

in this game of chance, luck of the draw,

luck drawn out in random dealings

now replicated with a rapid arrangement

of graphics digitized on a computer’s screen,

programmed play’s amusement separating us

in the silent solitude of life; not the same,

the click of a mouse lacking the luster

and the flutter of shuffled cards falling,

the laughter of good times shared, win or lose.