Game of patience,
of curious collisions
between skill and luck,
of mostly winnable games
won only a tenth of the time
based on decisions made early.

Due to the astronomical number of card layouts
combined with unpredictable human choice, theoreticians
cannot precisely calculate the probability of victory.

You get so frustratingly,
furiously close
before the card you need
is blocked by another.
Give up. Shuffle. Redeal.
I can play this game for hours.

Solitaire has been proven to have therapeutic benefits
by offering dopamine microdoses through attainable victories
that help relax the mind and ease stress.

I have not been able
to think of write straight
since her thunder and lightning
and rain started falling.
I want to turn off my brain;
time out for a little while.

The earliest references to the origin of solitaire
mention another game, or possibly an alternative name,
Patience, the virtue necessary to win the game.

I’m hoping that she’ll text
I’m hoping that she’s real
that I haven’t misread signs
haven’t misplayed my hand
and I can’t do anything else
except turn over the next three
hoping it’s the card I need
but no it’s again blocked
by yet another card
and #!&%! Damn!
Oh well…

Give up. Shuffle. Redeal.
Breathe.
We’ll win the next one.