Cards Dealt

My hands are full of cards;

I can barely hold them.

The King—my husband—does not care.

He will not lighten the load,

curses when I ask for help.

He loves only his riches

and being esteemed—

the center of focus

in his world.

This Queen is silenced.

Without authority,

she obeys the King

and hides her sorrow.

Two princes—

the Knave,

who hardly serves,

idolizes his father,

loyal to him,

and snubs his mother.

And the Joker

who makes her smile,

but speaks truth as jest

and can be cruel in his own way.

The rest is just clutter,

enough cards to build a house

that falls once it stands,

overwhelming the Queen.

The house of cards

is her castle,

her whole kingdom.