To Luck

In the cards and at the bend in the road

we never saw you

in the womb and in the crossfire

in the numbers

whatever you had your hand in

which was everything

we were told never to put

our faith in you

to bow to you humbly after all

because in the end there was nothing

else we could do

but not to believe in you

still we might coax you with pebbles

kept warm in the hand

or coins or the relics

of vanished animals

observances rituals

not binding upon you

who make no promises

we might do such things only

not to neglect you

and risk your disfavor

oh you who are never the same

who are secret as the day when it comes

you whom we explain

as often as we can

without understanding