With all due respect to Kenny Rogers...

...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.