I Play for Fun

I walk under the casino lights,

bright like stars but closer.

The sound of chips is music,

but not music to pull me in,

only music to enjoy,

like when someone plays guitar on the street

and I stop for a moment,

smile, and walk again.

I gamble for fun.

Not for need,

not for hunger,

not for a big fortune.

I have a small wallet,

and inside are coins,

not to change my life,

but to buy a little joy,

a little laugh,

a story to tell later on.

At roulette I like the red,

because red feels alive,

like roses,

like holidays.

The ball spins,

people lean forward,

and I feel happy even when it lands

on black instead.

Win or lose,

the smile is the same.

Cards are the same for me.

Kings and queens are pictures,

not promises.

The dealer gives,

the dealer takes,

and I clap the game

like a small theater show.

I do not ask more.

I do not stay too long.

Life already has numbers to worry about

rent, bills, shopping list,

tax that never ends.

Here, the numbers are light,

they are a game.

I spend a little,

and the return is not only money.

Sometimes it is laughter,

sometimes surprise,

sometimes only silence,

but always with a smile.

And yes, I like also sport bets.

On my phone I check the odds,

football mostly,

sometimes tennis,

sometimes Formula 1,

because I like the sound of fast cars.

I try nieuwe bookmakers Nederland,

curious names,

new choices.

Not for getting rich,

but to feel the game stronger.

When I bet on my team,

I cheer louder.

When the striker scores,

I clap my hands

even if nobody is near.

If the team loses,

I laugh also,

because the amount was not big,

it was only a ticket

to feel more excitement.

Sometimes I bet small on corners,

sometimes who gets the first yellow card.

Little details of the game

become more alive.

My friends send messages,

we compare slips,

we laugh when one of us

loses in last minute.

It is not pain,

it is only part of the fun.

I do not run after jackpots.

I do not run after luck.

I sit with coffee,

watch the match,

sometimes click poker online.

My heart stays calm.

My mind is clear.

This is play,

not prison.

When night comes,

I close my wallet,

turn off the screen,

and keep my smile.

I may have lost a little,

but I won time well spent.

That is enough.

So let the dice roll,

let the ball spin,

let the referee whistle.

I am here,

a traveler who plays,

but does not chase.

For me,

gambling is not a storm,

it is a breeze.

And I am happy

to let it pass.