House of Cards

Should I but follow suit,
and play my hand like you,
in spite of everything
I swore I’d never do?

Or learn to cheat at cards,
hold aces up my sleeves,
fake it ‘til I make it,
‘til everyone believes.

Just once I saw you twist
and dare to try for more.
You won, but then retired
to cells with welded doors.

That can’t be all there is;
four suits and royal peers,
sat in hands and waiting
for numbers to appear.

One by one you play them,
and build your house of cards.
But I would rather gamble
than lay in wait for guards.