Hand-me-down-deck

The cards we get handed

are always a mess

shuffled and scattered

bent, torn, and then ripped

But when you find all the pieces

and just tape them back on

smooth out the edges,

and the cards become one

Before long,

you have a full deck

complete with the good cards

and yes,

all the bad

Because even with each card working right

you can be dealt a bad hand

and be consumed by luck's spite

Yet,

even when drawing

the worst set of black cards

they can be played to perfection

with some patience and smarts

Here's what they don't say about a string of bad luck

Once you've trudged through the trenches

all that's left is the good stuff

Keep going

don't you dare give up

It won't be long, 'til you look back

Proud of all you have done