Disclaimer: Sue me. Go right ahead.
~ This is a one-shot introspect thing, something I wrote when I had nothing else to do and was building a house of cards. (Which, by the way, I failed miserably at.) I started wondering if Jackle had ever built one, and what he would have been thinking while he was doing it. This is what I came up with. Flame lots, but be warned that flames with no helpful content or suggestions as to how I can improve will be used to help start a fire in our wood stove. ~
House of cards.
That's all your life is. Fragile, delicate, built of spun glass and gossamer. House of cards.
Strange, really, that what you take most enjoyment in should be such a fitting comparison to your own life. Even now you're building a house of cards with your ever-present deck.
Carefully, now. Don't be too quick.
What do these cards represent? Your life. Each card is a thought, an idea, a belief, a hope, a prayer. Part of you.
Careful. Don't be too eager.
One card placed, then another---and you've got a column. A stepping stone for the next thing, the next idea, the next thought. Bring two together and it's just a springing board to the next new height.
Careful, careful. Don't rush.
Several along the tops, laid down one by one. Sacrifice more and more thoughts and hopes, and you might just build yourself higher.
Careful, now. Don't move too fast.
Easy, though. One false move, one careless action, and everything will be knocked down. Again.
Careful, careful. Don't hurry it along.
One card, two cards propped up side by side---and another level of columns is born. More hopes, more dreams, quickly! And you just might become higher in others' eyes. Give of them now, quickly.
Careful, though. Don't move too swiftly.
More dreams. More hopes. More pieces of your soul. Give them, now, without hesitation. Don't hold back. Sacrifice them all, and you will be seen as high and mighty.
Careful, be careful. Don't be too eager.
More dreams. More pieces. Start laying them side by side, even and still as in the grave.
Careful, be very careful. Don't be too careless.
More dreams, more dreams! Just a few more, and the platform will be done. And you will be taller.
Careful, oh be careful. Don't misjudge your steps.
There. The last dream laid down, alongside the others. Silent and still. As in the grave. And you've just finished a new platform. More cards can be placed on top, and another level's built. You're taller.
Careful, careful now. Don't be so cocky.
There. You made a mistake.
And you've blown it. Shouldn't have been so cocky.
Cards float silently, silent as in the grave.
We all fall down.
You weren't careful enough.
So start building again. It's the only thing to do.
One card, two cards, gather them back to yourself. Shuffled, confused, disordered. Hopes and cares and dreams all scattered, all silent. Silent as in the grave. Gather them to yourself and ruffle them fondly, feeling their closeness, their reality; taste the feeling of wild freedom, of being yourself, of owning your dreams.
Then, start building again. One cards, two cards, lay them down. Set them up. Give them back.
Three cards, four. And you're on your way to becoming tall again.
Give them up, now. Give up your dreams. The pieces of your soul.
Careful, careful.
House of cards.