Queen of Clubs

Fan me out, lay me down
on green baize. Play with me,
turn me over, stroke my weary sides
Cut your finger, bleed and be my lover
Hide me
from cheating others' eyes
Gaze and auto-hypnotise
into my twisted symmetry.

You could be my heart, my
one-eyed Jack, my one card stud
Who rubs against me, back to back
front to front, front to back
Bending, softening
worrying roughened edges,
And often when we're out of play
you can fold my corners.

But I have another side:
Pick me out and hold me up
Don't trust me, don't touch me
Look at my blank unblinking eyes
contemplating deadly clover.
I'll take your heart and poison it
as nightshade.
Remember me
But don't tell them what I am.

You think I'm dark,
sinister? See my sister, she
looks the other way. White-eyed
and red-cloaked, gilt-laced,
guiltless, two-faced.