Dope Dealer

never commit
a felony
for free

always try to
get paid for
misdemeanors
as well

never get high
on your own
supply
never ride around
dirty
never get caught
in the place
you were
last seen
never make change
never front it away

even though
to keep it
moving
you have to
eventually
break every
rule

try to always
avoid mistakes
try to be
prepared
to avoid others
mistakes as well
never believe
a mouth that
is smiling
never listen to
words that are
beguiling
never look into
eyes that are
suffering

they know the score
they know the payoff
if they don't, then
you have to ask
yourself...

does the exchange rate
merit the risk of
passing along
good information
on a bad situation?

never lose sight
of the bottom line

never hate a hustle
but beware hustlers

never use your
real name
never reveal
your real
self

keep it moving
until you can't
until it hurts
then move
some more
lay it down
all on the line
all in for
everything
until
the last card
is revealed

ace of spades

no jokers
no jokes

the trigger finger
is itchy

the shooting hand
is shaky

the blood registers
with a
curling motion

a long spiral
down
to the floor

forming a puddle
with sharp edges

giving you a place
to rest your head

against the
hardest blade
of nightfall

this isn't
a rest
period

these are not
rules to live by
these are rules
to deal by

dealing is not
making a living
it is just doing
basic math
with fleshless
bones

re-up
or die