JOKER IN THE PACK

JOKER IN THE PACK

written by: Dilip Mohapatra

@dilipmo

The Imperial Bower
that trumped all others
in course of time
loses its sheen
and gets morphed into
the Joker that doesn’t jest
nor does it clown
but changes its colour
caste and creed
when your luck is down.

They don’t belong to any suit
but yet appear
mostly in pairs in a deck
black and red
and are shuffled and dealt
as any other
though at times discarded
uncharitably as unwanted
and extras
only to be retrieved as a replacement
of a lost or damaged card
assuming their identity
but while on their fools’ journey
they sometimes bask and come alive
when played as wild cards
or even as an excuse.

The synthetic smile
with the hidden smirk
remains the same
and while searching for
its identity
the joker stays unfazed
waiting for its turn
to change its colours
like a chameleon
but not as it pleases
but as you will it to
and in its powerlessness
it empowers you
and makes your hands
stronger
and makes you the winner.

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Dilip Mohapatra

MAY 2017 / JAN-FEB 2019 AUTHOR OF THE MONTH at Spillwords.com

Dilip Mohapatra (b.1950), a decorated Navy Veteran started writing poems since the seventies. His initial foray into the world of literature was through poetry workshops in college and inspirations from his teacher Jayanta Mahapatra, an acclaimed poet in contemporary English. His poems have appeared in many literary journals of repute and anthologies worldwide. Some of his poems are included in the World Poetry Yearbook, 2013 and 2014 Editions. He has six poetry collections to his credit published by Authorspress, the latest being Dewdrops of Dawns, which has received raving reviews in multiple literary journals globally.
Currently his latest, a Professional book titled Campus to Corporate which is a career navigation manual for the students aspiring for a successful corporate career and for newcomers to the industry to survive and succeed has become a best seller with more than 10000 copies sold.
He lives with his wife at Pune, India.

Latest posts by Dilip Mohapatra (see all)

• Unbridled - March 18, 2023
• The Sphinx - November 7, 2022
• We The Indoor People - August 6, 2022