THE 17th AND FINAL...

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all around town 

The tables were put away, all the players wore frowns

The quarter was closing, and soon it would be
the end of an era, 16 years of poker that’s free.

The players were masked all snug in their beds,
While visions of Royals danced in their heads.

The dealers were home, and Jim updated the website,
They all settled their brains before saying good night.

When out in the town there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my couch see what was the matter

Away to I-4 I flew like a flash,
Tore open the car doors and threw up the Sunpass.

This Christmas Eve night there's not a cloud in the sky
and as I continued west, the 429 I soon came by
And that's when I saw it, and it gave me a smile,
A red SUV with 211,000 miles!

With a fast little driver looking oh, not-so-slim,
I knew in a moment it had to be Jim.
More rapid than flushes his dealers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

At Longshots, the games are now run by Steve and Rob,  

Chris or Trisha show up, if there’s ever a mob
Eryka runs the show up and down Nova Road
With help from the guys they all carry the load
Sam deals with her on Tuesdays at McKenna’s Place
and Zack at The Dog House with his smiling face
At the VFW and South Turn, she’s all by herself
except when Jay shows up as a helpful little elf

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each reindeer hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Jim came with a bound.

He wore Big Stacks fleece, from his head to his tush,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of jewelry he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled!  He was ready to stay
He gave Lisa 2 cards, red Aces to play!

They sat down at the table and I dealt the cards out,
Jack/Ten suited for Jim, still many an out.
The flop was all diamonds - Queen, Jack and a Ten,
Two pair now for Jim.  But she’s not giving in

The turn - Jack of Hearts – “Forrest Gump: That's mah boat"
Lisa’s ready to leave and then grabs her coat.
Jim’s droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
As he whispered “All in, it’s time for me to go.”

A quick insta-call, she flips over her draw
Jim stands up and sees his potential flaw.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon let Lisa know she had nothing to dread.
Jim turns over his boat, but still one card to go
The River Runs Through It – King of Diamonds - A ROYAL FLUSH, don’t ya know!

We’ve made many friends, we’ve cried and we’ve laughed,
We’ve shared many drinks, lots of Yuenglings on draft.
But this final goodbye is the hardest to say
It’s been a great run, thank you all for the play!

He spoke not a word, but went right back to work,
He finished the website, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
He gave a nod, and up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his dealers gave a whistle,
And away they all drove like the down of a thistle.
And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas from BSPL, and to all a good-night!"