The devastation was not about my heart
alone
but in watching the pedestal upon which
you always stood
crumble to the ground:

along the side, the inscription had read “strength.“

I thought you would win against this.

I’d read the confidence in the way you
seemed to play all the hands the universe dealt
took fun in the game, even
slipped me as the card up your sleeve,
but I guess my value made you nervous,
the queen of spades, dominating hearts:
I watched your hands shake when the turn passed to you
saw ego battle intuition, safety compete with truth,
but I’d read the inscription, so

I put “faith” against “fear”

then watched your loss expand.