The 167th Psalm of Elvis

Blessed are the marble breasts of Venus,

those ancient miracles, for they are upright and milk white

and they point above the heads of the crowd in the casino.

Blessed are the crowds that play, and whose reflections

sway in the polish of her eggshell eyes,

for they circle like birds around the games,

and they are beautiful and helpless.

Bless the fast glances that handle the waitress,

bless her miniskirt toga and the flame-gold scotch,

and bless the gamblers who gaze at the stage.

Remember also the dancer and remember her dance,

her long neck arched like a wild white goose,

the tassels on her nipples that shoot like sparks,

and bless the legs and bless the breasts

for they are fruit and honey and they are generous to the eyes.

Have mercy on my wallet, the dollars I punch into the slot,

and grace the wheels swapping clubs and hearts.

Mercy on me too, as I stumble as if in a hashish haze

watching the reels spin away, for I am a blown fuse

and I need someone to bless me before it’s too late.

Honor the chance in a million, the slot machine jolting,

the yellow light flashing, honor the voice that calls jackpot,

and the coins that crush into the brushed steel tray,

for there is a time for winning and a time for losing

and if you cast your bread upon the waters

you will find it again after many days.

Pity the crowd around the blessed winner

all patting his back as if it rubs off,

this juice, this force, this whatever

that might save them from their own cursed luck.

And pity the poor winner whose hand claws back

into his bucket of coins and who cannot walk away,

because he’d do anything for the feeling he had

when the great pattern rose from the chaos

of cherries and lemons and diamonds and stars

and he knew for that moment he was blessed.

Source: The Golem of Los Angeles (Red Hen Press, 2008)