sketch of zach (fifty-two pickup) in poetry

watch the nervous energy
the mania
the ruffle of shuffle
it's all in the cards
it's all in his hands
tricks only he can see
only sages can understand
it's misdirection
even though it's
not yet even a trick
he's burning off the fear
before it makes him sick
because of what he can't see

he holds himself to
legendary standards
forgetting that the audience
are innocent bystanders
amazed
and missing the small mistakes
that he thinks are obvious and hates

watch the hands
nothing up his sleeves
and much more magic
than he believes