The Hustler
The Hustler
Manny’s Pool Hall Cleveland 1962
Kirk had the driver’s license the four of us
high school boys owned brass-jointed cues
to break in half and fold into a leather pouch
carry-strap young gunslingers
emulating Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats
from Walter Tevis’ book and film
although I was never completely convinced
about comedian Jackie Gleason as Fats (until much later)
always seeing Ralph Kramden, his one of these days, Alice . . .
to the MOON! from The Honeymooners
what really scared me was Paul Newman
thumbs broken in the cheap toilet stall
Kirk was my age and the first authentic hustler
I ever knew he was gifted
when any of us played for fun
he always lost praising our skill
dismissing his own month after month
when Kirk played for money against strangers or us
he invariably won apologizing for his luck
returning to casual free play
his losing streak returned
the sincerity with which Kirk convinced me
putting his arm around my…
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