The Prince Who Failed to King

I built you a castle

with my heart in my hands,

but you turned the spade

and plucked it out by the roots.

 

You didn’t heed

the old gambler’s advice

to know when to hold ‘em.

 

You thought you’d win,

but we lost

when you folded

the best hand at the table.

 

I built you a castle,

it was only a little one,

but still.

 

 

© 2026 Jennifer Wagner

 

dVerse Poetics

 

 

 

two images: pixabay.com