...my father-in-law, William Stein of New City, NY, an engineer, poet and devoted player of Texas Hold 'Em has shared with me the following original poem. He has agreed that I may share it with my readers. It is rare to find one person who combines the science of engineering and the sensibilities of poetry with the risk-taking and bravado of a good bluff, but William Stein does it with grace and class.
Ode to Alan & Tony, The Ace and the Ten
If you can keep your chips when other players
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you
If you can bluff and keep the others guessing
And have the style and form to follow through;
If you can wait for starting hands worth playing
And conceal their strength with smile and guile galore
If you can bet and raise your weak opponents
Inducing calls until they’ve chips no more;
If you can shroud a pair of Tens in mystery
Or play a suited Ace with style and grace
And watch the flop produce a Set or Flush draw
And not reveal your psychic change of pace;
If you can win and keep a humble mind-set
Or lose a hand and never voice complaint
If you can bear the pain of someone’s suck-out
And exercise emotional restraint;
If you rejoice each time you’re playing Hold-em
With friend or foe and all who play for fun
You’ll grow in wisdom and in understanding
And then one day you’ll know the game, My Son.
