She anted Isadora Duncan's scarf;

I, Pablo Neruda's socks.

We were playing five-card-advanced-

degree stud.  For keeps.

She opened with Dorothy Gale's ruby slippers.

I saw them with Tom Thumb's Seven League Boots.

"And I'll raise you Gogol's overcoat."

—then watched her shrug off

Jacob's coat of many colors

and toss it onto the pile.

I decided to go all in:

Mark Twain's white suit,

Natty Bumppo's leather stockings,

Tarzan's loin cloth.

Smiling, she stepped out of

Miss Havisham's yellowed wedding dress

and Blanche Dubois' slip,

then called.