The Pocket-Sized Casino

A chime, a buzz, a flash of light,

A lure that cuts throughout the night.

It's not a call, it's not a text,

It's just the algorithm's flex.

You pull it out with hopeful hands,

To see what luck the scroll commands.

A spin, a swipe, a flicking thumb,

For what new prize might finally come.

A laugh, a like, a bit of news,

A hit of views you didn't lose.

The dopamine, a sudden rush,

That leaves your mind in waiting hush.

The screen refreshes, blank and bare,

You pull the lever, waiting there.

For one more hit, one more surprise,

Behind the screen's hypnotic eyes.

The world around begins to fade,

A real-life price is being paid.

A conversation, left to die,

Beneath a bright and lonely sky.

You check again, it's just the same,

In this unwinnable, sad game.

The house always wins, don't you see?

The house is your anxiety.

So drop the coin, break the trance,

And give your tired mind a chance.

The greatest jackpot you can win,

Is the quiet peace that waits within.