Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Devil's Card

I am the Ace of Spades. The grimmest card.
Tricked out in ink's best tailoring and yet
I am no tawdry trump, no Diamond Jack
Still less a plaintive pip afraid to bet.

More gloried than the Queen of Hearts' own heart
My maker set his name on me alone;
Out-menacing the King of Clubs' own club
As devil's card I have a dark renown.

And then as Death I too am sometimes thought
And death and tax are twins as sure as sin
So they chose me to bear the duty stamp
Which proves that even excise men may grin.

***
(The Ace of Spades was indeed the card chosen by British excise to show the duty paid on the deck).