Anaphora and the Solitaire Player

Divide me up for four players—you

here, your mother on the right,

your sister on the left, your great-

aunt across the table—and we

shall play Rummy and laugh together,

though you cannot hear my gaiety.

.

Divide me up for three players—you

here, your sister on the right, your great-

aunt on the left—and we shall play

Rummy and weep and laugh together,

though you cannot hear my grief.

.

Divide me up for two players—you

here, your great-aunt across the table—

and we shall play Rummy

quickly, you and my cards quiet.

.

.

Divide me up—please—

for yourself and we can play

Solitaire together.

.

Shuffle me like you once did, lining

the edges of my cards up neatly.

.

Shuffle me like you once did, hands

eager and splitting and reforming.

.

Shuffle me like you once did, then

divide me up. Please.