What can be more of a nothing
than the lowly five of clubs?
In bridge, clubs are the lowest suit
and in any context…trying for high
or for low, wouldn’t it seem useless?
But it’s not! A hundred ninety-two
combinations of four other cards
make a straight flush…
and that’s light years from useless.
But the five of clubs fits into…
all the possible straight combinations
from ace to five through five to nine,
all the flushes with any for other clubs,
three of a kind, four fives, two pairs,
full houses…the possibilities
defy computation but leave little doubt
no individual card…no specific person…
lacks value, lacks astounding worth,
in situations we fail to consider
when we stand stuck in the conviction
of insignificance.