marked cards

the cards are marked.
the wheel
rigged.
the pony has a bum leg
and the game
is on. the dice are loaded.
where is the pea,
beneath which shell.
here,
sign on the dotted line.
the small print is
everything.
there's a wink
and a nod in everyone's
eye.
fingers crossed while
they speak.
what hope do we have at truth
when
there's so much in front
of us
that isn't what
it seems.