Romance

I was just cracking my bones when she came on the phones,
said, "I'm a gambler, a hustler, a card-shark, friend.
I wondered if you could help - you see, I got a few loans.
I needed them once but now I'm on the mend."

Well, I'd no place to go and nothing better to do
Lately I've felt like I don't have much choice
and although I had my suspicions, it's true,
I was not altogether unseduced by her voice

It was strong but kinda sweet - like a good whisky
I'd say it was infused with something ancient
Made me feel like talking to her was sorta risky
So I took her details and I read her the statement

She said, "What do you care when I plan to retire?"
I just, "Just doing my job," and explained our position
She said, "Well, you know, I'm well known as a liar.
Just put me down there as 57."

When we got to employment the line became tense
Nothing she said seemed to be on the list
"You don't have Lone Ranger? That don't make sense!"
She said, "Try Exiled, But Hardly Missed."

"Lady, I gotta be straight," I said,
"I'm not so sure we can help you this time."
I was checking the figures, adding the debt,
and as for income - well, she hadn't a dime.

"Why, I'll stake it all on one good game,"
she told me. "You sound like a player to me."
"Not on my shift," I said. "Here, nothing's the same.
Well, we really shouldn't have met like this, see."

"If that's the case, I'd better be going,"
she sighed sadly. "You called by bluff
But let me just quote you some Lenny Cohen:
'I fold. You win. Enough's enough.'"

The line went dead and I began to reflect
which is something I hate doing mostly
but I though, some people get more self-respect
from losing with grace and winning baldly.

Sometimes I wish I was a little like that
(but then sometimes I wish I was female)
So I draw no conclusions - I don't plan to act
It's just one more little undisclosed detail.