George Herbert's Holy Poker Tips For Troubled Boys at Trinity, 1616
Help thyself, and God will help thee
If thou should lack thy cards, then fold
Lest thou the gates of Hell behold
Fold them or raise—but never call
Or like a serpent thou shalt crawl
An ace and six of different suits
Conspire to poison Eden’s fruits
Beware of those who bet too quick
They build their Babel brick by brick
The blind who raises desperate bets
Deserves what wrath the Lord begets
A dealer who does not raise last
Plays like a pilgrim on a fast
A fickle friend, luck comes and goes
Ask Pharaoh how the Red Sea flows
Keep all thy cards close to thy chest
And thou shalt be by Magi blessed
The fool who folds a pair of kings
Gives unto Caesar diamond rings
He who survives a losing streak
Inherits wealth if he be meek
Another’s boast may be a bluff
False piety is not enough
If thou must bluff, glance not away
Like Judas, you may Christ betray
Nobody hates the fish who lose
The Romans love to see blood ooze
When others lose, don’t laud thy win
Such blatant pride was Satan’s sin
Be not afraid to lose a hand
Christ’s resurrection was not planned
And lastly, never mourn a loss
Think of our Saviour on the cross
Cloudbank 2009
