Something is different and I don't know...
I wonder what it is though.
A million things course through my mind
like a comet burning through the sky.
when you know the answer to
everyone else's questions,
but hardly ever your own.
Then someone does, or so they say.
But, the next thing you know they're a thousand miles away.
And a calm voice answered, "It happens to everyone."
If no one is around, what are you supposed to do
with the voice out of the blue?
which is kind of like that time when...
[REDACTED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT]
you weren't supposed to tell anyone that either.
yet 9 out of 10 times law makers are the ones breaking it.
So, like I said, something's different, no, I meant
broken and I do know what it is.
[10-12-2002 © Monique Finley]
Image Source
A Little History
This photo is courtesy of TripAdvisorIn October of 2002, I worked as a Deckhand in the Marine Crew at the Horseshoe Bosser City Hotel & Casino, one of the riverboat casinos located in north Louisiana. Locals and regulars call these casinos "the Boats." And, like the riverboats of old, these also have fully functioning paddle wheels and multiple floors. I really loved the 3rd floor where there was a red Emergency Box with various safety implements required by Coast Guard regulations.
Riverboat Deckhands work 12 hour days, by far the longest shift at the Boats. I also ended up working in Slots (slot attendant) and Table Games (craps dealer). But, that came later. On the day this poem was written, I was quite likely sitting up on that red emergency box, smoking a cigarette, drinking a cup of coffee, and writing poetry while I waited for the 3rd floor trash to fill up. You see, even though the casinos had Environmental Services for taking out trash and keeping the casino cleaned, management just couldn't justify paying Deckhands (required by the Coast Guard) for daily safety drills. They got their money out of the requirement by passing Marine Crew all the odd jobs.
In fact, while working Marine Crew, I did everything from emptying trash to cleaning ceiling tiles; from re-upholstering chairs to replacing the game layouts (a.k.a. "felts"); from running emergency drills to twiddling my thumbs. Turns out I'm pretty good at that last one. :P
BONUS: For a picture of me at work in Table Games turn to page 10.
P.S. That was about the 40th time I'd smiled for that picture. Customers kept walking in front of the camera.
P.S.S. @knowledge-trust, this isn't a dice story (but it's coming, I swear!).
Twitter: mfinley80
SteemIt Intro: What's Up, STEEMIT?! I'm Monique Finley, a Blogger, Poet, and Author of the Free E-Serial: Terra Damnata!
Serial Novel: Terra Damnata, Book 1 of The Pu'Shing Bhu'Tons Series
Well this was surely something different, and it didn't disappoint! Lots of great lines, but my favorite has to be:
So relatable! The poem is filled with so much whimsical energy, that one cannot help but have a smile on their face as they're reading.
I didn't know Monique Finley was a pseudonym! Here I thought it was your real name haha! Awesome experience with the casino, I guess if you ever owned one for yourself, you would know it inside and out.
Monique Finley is my name, no pseudonym. Well, maybe one day. lol. I learned a lot about casinos, business, and customer service while working in the casinos. I also learned that should I ever have enough money to own a casino, I'll be happier investing in space. LOL.
I'm glad you enjoyed the poem and the history. I've got a stack of old poems that I plan on putting up here. It'll be slow going, they span about 20 years. Found some of the poems I wrote as a teenager. This particular one is from 2002, so it's 15 years old. That's crazy. I have poetry older than my nieces and nephews.
Hmm? Oh shoot! I mistook you for Holly Brown! My bad! Page 10 of the magazine, not the document haha! I thought it was page 10 of the document haha! Sorry about that!
Oh really? Wow! Here I keep thinking the house always wins. Then where did all my money go to when I lost it on poker and blackjack? Haha!
20 years of poetry! Wow! You have a lot of content in store. That's exciting! :D
lol! That's what happened. I wondered. The house usually does win. But, that's because their wallet is thicker, if you dig my meaning.
I'm going to try to get it up a lot faster than it took to write it. lol!
OHOHO! I see what you mean ;)
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