Shark

He lives to play
He waits to live
He plays to keep going
Every moment between sessions drags painfully
Every second he is not playing, he is losing
In gaps between sessions, he bites his nails
He sits with the sitters
He sings along to the singers
He watches the other players
He drinks with the drinkers, when he can afford it
And when he is fortunate, he plays for competition
Whether winning or losing
The game is all he has
Not for love of the playing
But for the want of existing
As the sun sets each night
When the lights go down
And the last head bows out the door
He closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath
Home, alone, he has nothing but time
Time and unpaid bills
He lives to play
He waits to live